Obama says he wants US to organize summit next year on global nuclear security

Obama wants to host global nuclear security summit

MOSCOW — President Barack Obama says he wants to host a summit on global nuclear security next year.

Obama suggested the event at a news conference Monday after several hours of talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (dih-MEE’-tree med-VYEH’-dyev). The two reached a preliminary agreement to trim their nuclear stockpiles to as few as 1,500 warheads each.

Obama said the spread of nuclear weapons is an urgent issue the United States and Russia must take the lead on.

The U.S. president said it will be very difficult for either country to show leadership unless they are willing to manage and reduce their own nuclear stockpiles in a rational way.