Russians delay ratification of US nuclear deal

Published on Thursday 23 December 2010 13:57

RUSSIAN President Dmitry Medvedev yesterday welcomed the US Senate's decision to ratify a landmark nuclear arms control treaty, but Russian legislators said they need to study a resolution accompanying the document before following suit.

Mr Medvedev's spokeswoman Natalya Timakova said that when he signed the New Start agreement with US President Barack Obama, they agreed the ratification process should be conducted simultaneously.She said Mr Medvedev voiced hope both houses of the Russian parliament would ratify the pact, but added that they would need some time to analyse the Senate's conditions.

The New Start, signed by Mr Obama and Mr Medvedev in April, would limit each other's strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550, down from a ceiling of 2,200. It would also re-establish a system for monitoring and verification which ended last year as agreements lapsed.

Russian legislators had said before the Senate ruling on Wednesday they would approve the treaty quickly after it was ratified in the US.