The U.S. Senate voted on Wednesday to begin a debate of the START arms reduction treaty with Russia.
Sixty six senators voted in favor of the debate, while 32 were against. A two-thirds majority was required.
Discussions of a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia were included into the agenda of the U.S. Senate's December 13 session. However, the higher chamber of the Congress debated tax documents instead.
U.S. President Barack Obama earlier promised that the Senators would ratify the strategic accord with Russia before Christmas. A two-third majority is also required for ratification.
Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the new arms reduction treaty on April 8 in Prague to replace the START 1 agreement that expired in December 2009.
The new Russian-U.S. pact obligates both nations to cap their fielded strategic nuclear weapons to 1,550 warheads, while the number of deployed and non-deployed delivery vehicles must not exceed 800 on either side.
The agreement will come into force after simultaneous ratification by both chambers of the Russian parliament and the U.S. Senate.
WASHINGTON, December 15 (RIA Novosti)
