Russia expects U.S. to approve arms treaty

MOSCOW, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Russian officials say they expect the United States to ratify a new strategic arms reduction treaty by the end of this year.

The new START treaty was signed on April 8 in Prague, replacing the START 1 treaty that expired in December 2009.

Under the new treaty, the United States and Russia will limit deployed strategic nuclear weapons to 1,550 warheads, while the number of deployed and non-deployed delivery vehicles must not exceed 800 on either side, RIA Novosti reported.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama had agreed that the ratification processes should be simultaneous.

Russia will pursue ratification in both the State Duma and Federation Council, lawmaker Konstantin Kosachev said.

"We are waiting for the corresponding decisions from the (U.S.) Senate. The foreign affairs commission's meeting is scheduled for September 15 or 16, and our U.S. colleagues have assured us a positive decision on ratification will be taken there," Kosachev said.