Russia, US to hold regular talks on arms cuts

MOSCOW - Russia and the US will hold a regular round of talks on arms cuts in Geneva between late August and early September, the Russian foreign ministry said Saturday.

Russia and the US met July 22-24 in Geneva to continue talks on a new strategic arms reduction treaty to replace the old version known as START-I.

On July 6, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his US counterpart Barack Obama signed an agreement outlining the provisions of the final treaty, including cutting their countries’ nuclear arsenals to 1,500-1,675 operational warheads and delivery vehicles to 500-1,000.

Moscow has linked progress in the talks to concessions on Washington’s plans to deploy new missile defence bases in Europe.

–RIA Novosti