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It was part of a Washington-inspired attempt to “reset” relations with Moscow after
years of frayed ties under the administration of former US President George W Bush.
The landmark Start pact was signed in 1991 and led to huge reductions in the two
countries' nuclear arsenals.
Both sides have agreed to cut the number of warheads they hold to between 1,500 and
1,675 each.
But there have been disagreements on verification measures, how to count weapons
and launch systems.
Another bone of contention is the US plan for a missile defence system in Eastern Europe.
In their telephone call, the two leaders agreed to give their negotiators “additional
instructions” for concluding a draft treaty, the Kremlin statement said.
US and Russian negotiators have been meeting in Geneva to discuss a successor to
the Start treaty.
President Obama has said his goal is to have a nuclear-free world. He has promised to
cut the number and role of nuclear weapons in US security strategy.
The US is hosting a nuclear non-proliferation summit in Washington in April.
Strategic nuclear warheads are designed to target cities, missile locations and military
headquarters as part of a strategic plan.
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