The foreign relations committee of the lower house of the Russian parliament on Thursday recommended that lawmakers give final approval to the New Start arms reduction treaty with the United States.
The U.S. Senate ratified the new arms deal with Russia on December 22, but added several conditions to its resolution on ratification, including a demand to build up U.S. global missile defenses.
The new agreement will come into force after ratification by both houses of the Russian parliament, the State Duma and the Federation Council. The lower house is due to hold its third and final reading of its ratification bill next Tuesday.
The Federation Council could hold its ratification vote as soon as it returns to session on Wednesday.
The new treaty, replacing the START 1 that expired in December 2009, was signed in Prague last April by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama. The document slashes the Russian and U.S. nuclear arsenals to a maximum of 1,550 nuclear warheads, down from the current ceiling of 2,200.
MOSCOW, January 20 (RIA Novosti)
