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Medvedev, Obama Agree to Roll Back Nukes

By the Associated Press

Posted Jul 6, 2009 10:38 AM CDT
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(AP) – President Barack Obama said he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are countering "a sense of drift" in relations between their nations with preliminary agreement Monday to reduce the world's two largest nuclear stockpiles to as few as 1,500 warheads each. "We must lead by example, and that's what we are doing here today," Obama said as he and his Russian host pointed their arsenals toward the lowest levels of any US-Russia arms control agreement.

"We resolve to reset U.S.-Russian relations so that we can cooperate more effectively in areas of common interest," Obama said. The document signed at Obama's first summit in Russia is meant as a guide for negotiators as the nations work toward a replacement pact for the START arms control agreement that expires in December. The joint understanding completed by Obama and Medvedev, signed after about three hours of talks at the Kremlin, also commits the updated treaty to lower longer-range missiles for delivering nuclear bombs to between 500 and 1,100. The limit for warheads would be no more than 1,675 each.

US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, July 6, 2009.
US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, July 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Dmitry Medvedev, left, and Barack Obama meeting in the Moscow Kremlin, Russia, Monday, July 6, 2009.
Dmitry Medvedev, left, and Barack Obama meeting in the Moscow Kremlin, Russia, Monday, July 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Mikhail Klimentyev, Presidential Press Service)
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev, right, and US President Barack Obama shake hands at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, July 6, 2009.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev, right, and US President Barack Obama shake hands at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, July 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Mikhail Klimentyev, Presidential Press Service)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Rob
Jul 7, 2009 1:29 AM CDT
This was a little fast. I'll wait for the treaty to be signed, I think.
chas_m
Jul 6, 2009 4:35 AM CDT
Now this is what I call "being the President." Good job Obama. Now back to work on domestic issues please.
Fondue
Jul 6, 2009 4:24 AM CDT
Nope, pretty sure they meant Medvedev, supreme executive power constitutionally vested in the President of Russia, who is the Head of State, aka Commander-in-Chief.

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Russia • Barack Obama • summit • nuclear disarmament • Dmitry Medvedev

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