Moscow - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his US counterpart Barack Obama Saturday reconfirmed their goal of implementing a new nuclear weapon disarmament programme by December, reported the Interfax news agency Saturday, citing the Kremlin. The two leaders spoke by phone and agreed that they hope to have a new agreement in place by December 5, when the Strategic Arms Reducation Treaty, or START, is due to expire.
Both sides are reportedly satisfied with the progress of the "intensive dialogue" by experts in negotiations. Nonetheless, more negotiations are needed.
The new plan would envision reducing the number of nuclear warheads to 1,675 on each side, with the number of launch systems to fall to 1,100. Experts say negotiations are ongoing on the exact numbers, since Russia would like to make deeper cuts than the United States would like.
Obama also praised Russia for its "constructive" work in ongoing international negotiations on limiting Iran's nuclear programme.
