Treaty gets first read in Russia

MOSCOW, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Russia's State Duma approved the first of three planned readings of a new Russian-U.S. arms reduction treaty called START, officials said.

The State Duma is the lower house of the Russian Parliament.

The bill received 350 votes, with 58 deputies voting against it, RIA Novosti reported.

The U.S. Senate voted 71 to 26 to ratify the treaty Wednesday, with the support of 13 Republicans. President Barack Obama was given credit for pushing to have Congress approve it before members went home for the holidays.

The treaty reduces the number of nuclear warheads from a ceiling of 2,200 to 1,550.

"Russia's security will be ensured under any conditions," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

He said the pact ensures, but doesn't violate, Russia's security.

The Russian Parliament had pledged to give its approval to the measure on Friday but delayed its ratification until January, saying it will have three readings before the final ratification.

The treaty is seen as a major foreign policy victory for Obama.

It has the backing of NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.