July 6, 2009
Posted: July 6th, 2009 11:07 AM ET

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) – U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a "joint understanding" Monday committing the United States and Russia to a new, legally binding arms-control treaty, according to a statement released by the White House.

The treaty will limit the number of nuclear warheads each side can deploy and the number of missiles they have to launch them.

It is designed to replace the Start I agreement, which is nearly two decades old and expires December 5.

The two countries will "conduct a joint review of the entire spectrum of means at our disposal that allow us to cooperate on monitoring the development of missile programs around the world," Obama and Medvedev said in a joint statement.

Citing the dangers of ballistic missile proliferation, the two leaders called "upon all countries having a missile potential to refrain from steps that could lead to missile proliferation and undermine regional and global stability."

Among other things, Obama and Medvedev also concluded an agreement allowing U.S. military supplies to be transported through Russia for the purpose of supplying American troops in Afghanistan.

They also:

– agreed to jointly work toward accounting for their missing military personnel from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Cold War, including Soviet military personnel unaccounted for in Afghanistan;
– concluded a plan for resuming military-to-military cooperation;
– agreed to create a new commission "to provide better structure to the bilateral relationship" between Russia and the United States; and
– agreed to a memorandum designed to boost cooperation in the fields of medicine and public health.

Filed under: Dmitry Medvedev • President Obama


I hand out crying towels for republicans daily   July 6th, 2009 12:45 pm ET

Your doing a great job President Obama.

yuri   July 6th, 2009 12:44 pm ET

After ascertainin' US security, if extra number of agin' missiles, warheads, and other battle weapons are reduced, there may be a place for smart, much less expensive weaponry, that may silence some of the harsh hawkish critics of arms reduction. You see whom we are talkin' about?

citizenjane   July 6th, 2009 12:43 pm ET

@donttreadonme:

I did not. I did, however, realize my mistake after I voted for him in 2000.

kamenwati   July 6th, 2009 12:40 pm ET

Obama didn't become President by being weak, as some of you weak-minded folks in this thread are claiming. He beat all odds and the Republican slime machine. Moreover, in the short time he's been in office the Republican party has self-destructed. That's as much a testament to what he brings to American politics as it is to the failure of conservatism as a political idealogy.

Obama's not an ignorant blowhard and braggart like his predecessor. His strength and appeal is based on intelligence and knowledge of history and the world. He makes mistakes, No one is perfect. But at least he has the guts to admit them, unlike Bush who seemed confounded when asked to enumerate his shortcomings. Too bad some of you are too ideologically blinded by the inepitude of the right wing to recognize real leadership when it comes along.

sine   July 6th, 2009 12:39 pm ET

United states is not the be all end all of countries with power or trying to acquire power. Other countries want nukes too. The only way to go about it is to reduce nuclear arms across the board. This is a good step by Russia and the U.S.

Melody   July 6th, 2009 12:36 pm ET

I can't believe it! We have North Korea shooting missless that can reach Hawaii and we are reducing nuclear warheads? We are crazy right?
Obama is putting our security at risk.

Claudia in Houson   July 6th, 2009 12:29 pm ET

Let the the peace process work and stop the hate that serves no constructive purpose.

socratesxi   July 6th, 2009 12:27 pm ET

Have to agree with Bruce. Obama is a tool, a face, just to get votes for the demo's. The only thing this treaty is doing is renewing the old one. Whoopie... Russia has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world. So they will just have sell a few hundred warheads to meet the agreements of the treaty. Wonderful...

donttreadonme   July 6th, 2009 12:23 pm ET

citizenjane July 6th, 2009 12:03 pm ET

Jon, CA – Obama is a joke – but his devotees are too blind to see the truth.
————————————————————-
I kinda see you in the same light. You and others crack me up daily with your doom and gloom scenario's and Obama bashing.
__________________________________________

Jane I hope that you did not take part in the Bush bashing that took place right here for eight years. Same is same!

skyhawkdriver   July 6th, 2009 12:21 pm ET

Yup..I feel real safe now..obama as president and biden as vp..now I can feel safe..I guess I won't need to carry my 45 anymore either..does anyone really think this is a serious matter??..does obama think he is the reincarnation of neville chamberlin??..peace in our time..right obumbler..treaties mean nothing and aren't worth the paper they are written on

Mike, Syracuse, NY   July 6th, 2009 12:19 pm ET

When negotiating with the Russians you need to be negotiating from a position of strength. The nuclear arms reduction negotiated by Reagan followed his defense buildup which the Russians couldn't match. They needed the reduction more than we did. Today with total lack of foreign policy success in Iran and North Korea, and our 'allies' refusing to help us more in Afghanistan despite Obama's kissing up to them, Obama needs success in Russia more than they do. Sure, we'll get a deal or maybe more than one. All more favorable to them.

Bruce   July 6th, 2009 12:17 pm ET

Stefanie, get a grip. If Obama fails that means our country will survivie. Plain and simple. It's the Dummycrats that have no credibility. and you fault US for the rogue nations that are out to destroy US????? You and Dan in Tx make good bed fellows. Both of you are crazy. Nice to know that patriotism from people like you are dead.

Bruce   July 6th, 2009 12:13 pm ET

Dan from Tx: What kind of crack are you smoking? China, Russia, North Korea and iran aren't threats? And yet you blame your own country. You are pathetic. Talk about uneducated. Maybe you need to start understanding global relations before you start spewing your filth about your own country. Don't like this country? Feel free to leave any time you want.

donttreadonme   July 6th, 2009 12:08 pm ET

Susie July 6th, 2009 11:51 am ET

The whole world will be a better place if we can convince Iran and North Korea that we are NOT out to eliminate them from the face of the Earth. I frankly, don't blame them for being interested in having what we have. We look to them like a Gestapo…time to change the way we treat others -----------------------

North Korea is not afraid of us – they want our money that is why they are building Nukes. Iran wants to destroy Isreal and unify the middle east and we are standing in there way.

Libs are so naive when it comes to the world. We are not the bad guys!

makesUwonder   July 6th, 2009 12:06 pm ET

Everytime I think of the day I went to the voting polls to cast my vote for President I pat myself on the back knowing I didn't vote for this guy.

donttreadonme   July 6th, 2009 12:05 pm ET

This is a good first step the only thing that concerns me is that Russia will demand that we stop our missile defense shield and Obama will comply.

Not a good thing missile defense is important to our security to combat the new nuclear threats.

citizenjane   July 6th, 2009 12:03 pm ET

Jon, CA – Obama is a joke – but his devotees are too blind to see the truth.
---------------------

I kinda see you in the same light. You and others crack me up daily with your doom and gloom scenario's and Obama bashing.

gl, From Pittsburgh   July 6th, 2009 12:02 pm ET

The Republicans on this site have lost all credibility. Your blind hatred makes you lose all perspective other than wanting the President to fail which means the country fails.

I am proud of President Obama's understanding and knowledge of the world and his ability to bring foreign and global issues into the 21st Century

AMEN!

dominican mama 4 Obama   July 6th, 2009 12:01 pm ET

@ Bella Downell:

Yes dear, a legal treaty vis-a-vis nuclear proliferation is SUCH a SILLY thing. It just wan't silly when Bush did it.

Time for your milk and cookies, dear.

sifto77   July 6th, 2009 12:01 pm ET

Another apology for the greatness of the US by our own Pres. and to Russia of all people.

Sniffit   July 6th, 2009 12:01 pm ET

"although Hillary did this a few months ago and barley a mention, "

No, she didn't. The SoS has no power to sign a treaty. She can negotiate and help move things forward and act as the voice of our foreign policy, but only the POTUS can sign a treaty. That being said, her meetings with the Russians the "reset button" gag were all over the news...did you sleep through it?

Greg, San Francisco, CA   July 6th, 2009 12:01 pm ET

Unbelievable! The President follows up on a pledge to reduce nuclear arms and rekindles relations with Russia, and still some of you idiots find something to criticize. Why do you hate America?

Enlightened Voter   July 6th, 2009 11:57 am ET

There is no other way this could be looked at as anything but positive. Peace is always good yet you rethugs found a way to turn something good into a negative. You guys could care less about this country as you've proven, you just feed off your hatred for the President. How sad you are. Remember though, what goes around comes around, hate always returns to the hater. It's called Karma.

Robin in Tampa, FL   July 6th, 2009 11:55 am ET

It's been 7 years since the last summit between the US and Russia, we are long over due for a reboot in improving relations with our former adversary.

demwit   July 6th, 2009 11:54 am ET

1667 warheads instead of 2200. Oh Boy! I'll sleep better tonight..

RealityKing   July 6th, 2009 11:52 am ET

How about reporting truth over hype CNN! The statement said that this is a "road map" to an agreement. Not a commitment, and especially not a treaty!! Progressive liberals obviously need each word explained to them in detail..

Stephanie   July 6th, 2009 11:51 am ET

The Republicans on this site have lost all credibility. Your blind hatred makes you lose all perspective other than wanting the President to fail which means the country fails.

I am proud of President Obama's understanding and knowledge of the world and his ability to bring foreign and global issues into the 21st Century!!

Susie   July 6th, 2009 11:51 am ET

This looks good to me! We need to lead the way in arms reduction...we are not the world's policemen, however much Republicans love that role. We need to be humanitarians, loving our neighbors, not shooting them. The whole world will be a better place if we can convince Iran and North Korea that we are NOT out to eliminate them from the face of the Earth. I frankly, don't blame them for being interested in having what we have. We look to them like a Gestapo...time to change the way we treat others.

audacity of a dope   July 6th, 2009 11:49 am ET

Hope he brought the "Reset Button" and Teleprompter......this guy is scary

Steve   July 6th, 2009 11:49 am ET

Let me get this straight . . . Obama will compromise on National Security or War on Terror (Oops. "Man Made Disasters") but will not compromise on excessive spending, healthcare or any of the other domestic issues????

Give me a break. Obama is selling us out and is by definition a "Natural Man Made Disaster".

Dan, TX   July 6th, 2009 11:48 am ET

Russia and China are no different from the US and they are not military threats as long as we don't overreach. It is our lazy, uneducated population that is the real threat to America. Internal degradation is the problem, not external threats. Iran and N. Korea are nothings, we have nothing to fear from them. Al Queda killed 3000+, if we hadn't overreached in Iraq, we'd be sitting pretty and Bin Laden would be dead.

Kevin B   July 6th, 2009 11:46 am ET

What do the republican fake patriots and chicken hawks want? Even nuclear arms reduction is a bad thing in thier narrow, myopic political philosophy.

This is why america will not vote for another republican president for quite some time , the GOP is now made up shrill, anti-american no-nothing losers.

Go Mr Obama!!

Bruce   July 6th, 2009 11:46 am ET

Yeah, right John Black Hills. If you think the Russians are going to give anything up that isn't to their advantage than I have a bridge to sell you. At least bushw as of the mindset to put America first instead of every other nation. You Obamabots crack me up. Everything this man has done is nothing but smoke and mirrors and when it all falls apart I'llb e the first one to start laughing at all you morons who think this idiot is such a good President. of course having said all this it won't get posted because the Communist News Network (CNN) hates when peopel rip on Obama and just choose not to put posts on here from the correct side.

Jon in CA   July 6th, 2009 11:44 am ET

Obama is a 90 lb weakling – and our adversaries know this. Russia will play Obama and then laugh at his naivete – as they did when Obama tried to offer up Poland's missile defense for "help" with Iran.

Iran – calls Obama the 3rd Bush Presidency.
North Korea – fires missiles and tests nuclear weapons without concern.
Honduras – tells Obama to "besa mi culo"
Europe – loves his speeches and then laughs at his demands to help with Iraq, Afghanistan, and contributing more $$.

Obama is a joke – but his devotees are too blind to see the truth.

Kevin B   July 6th, 2009 11:43 am ET

Hey, isn't it amazing that some on this blog would even critisize nuclear arms reduction talks. What do these flat heads want? Total atomic annihalation to prove a political point.

This is why america will not vote for another republican president for quite some time , the GOP is now made up shrill, anti-american no-nothing losers.

Go Mr Obama!!

how about working on Iran and Korea   July 6th, 2009 11:39 am ET

and India and Pakistan...

Jack in Florida   July 6th, 2009 11:38 am ET

Finally......................................a President that uses dipolmacy. Keep up the good work Barack!

Janine   July 6th, 2009 11:35 am ET

I am happy with what Obama has done so far in his presidency. It will take time to fix all of the problems we have. I know people would like to blame him for all of their problems but he doesn't have a magic wand that can fix everything. And remember, he wasn't the one at the wheel when the car crashed.

Scott, Tucson   July 6th, 2009 11:33 am ET

Presidents on both sides comes and goes, the military and Nukes will be with us for ever.

Stuffit   July 6th, 2009 11:31 am ET

Looks like a fairly productive engagement. We must not get too excited though since treaties have to be ratified by Congress. I'm still awaiting ratification of the CTBT which directly affects my employment.

So far, only lip service to CTBT, it is a pending issue (signed by Clinton in 1996, not ratified yet by Congress). I wish they would clean the slate of pending business before trying to engage in cap-and-trade and health care etc, etc.

eolufemi   July 6th, 2009 11:30 am ET

Some of these comments are strange. A diplomatic meeting about reducing nuclear weapon arsenals is a bad thing? I'm glad the president is cleaning up the mess Bush made of foreign policy. I just fear that there's too much that needs to be done immediately for any president to achieve a worthwhile progressive agenda.

dominican mama 4 Obama   July 6th, 2009 11:28 am ET

Hugo you should've bought a home YOU could afford. I know I did.

ANGIE   July 6th, 2009 11:28 am ET

Larry July 6th, 2009 11:08 am ET
_____________________________________________________
I agree.

ron   July 6th, 2009 11:25 am ET

I love the blogs by The Right Wing Fringe Group Terrorist Party also know as the gop. They are upset so we know that the President is doing the right thing.

RepubliKLANs Are Plain Stupid   July 6th, 2009 11:24 am ET

this president is working for American people....obviously the job left undone for the last 8yrs; and that's why the republicans are so critical because they know Obama is far more charismatic and a better leader than that "Bush" man they gave us for 8 friggin yrs!!!

rachel   July 6th, 2009 11:22 am ET

Wow good for Obama, although Hillary did this a few months ago and barley a mention, guess if it doesnt have Obama in the headlines it doesn't deserve a mention. The press is doing a lousy job.

John   July 6th, 2009 11:22 am ET

It would be in America's interest to have Russia join NATO. The cold war is over and better to have Russia and it nukes with us than against us.
Russia is essentially by race, culture, and geography, a European country. It should be with NATO and the west, and we need to work with Russia on issues like international organized crime, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, Iran, North Korea, etc..
America and the West gets our way more by bringing Russia into the fold.

dominican mama 4 Obama   July 6th, 2009 11:19 am ET

@Mississippi Mike who said:Obama is a fool for thinking he can woo the Russian government. ..

The only fool is you, for even daring to suppose what Obama may be thinking.And you keep proving your foolishness with every single one of your baseless posts.

I give up   July 6th, 2009 11:19 am ET

he will get played for a fool by the russians. peace through strength.

John Black Hills/SD   July 6th, 2009 11:12 am ET

President Obama is busy doing the work left behind by GW Bush, all because Bush wanted to read more books than his creepy carnival monkey aka Rove. Obama's visit to Moscow has already shown the benefits, and value of speaking to nation leaders with respect, in public.

Larry   July 6th, 2009 11:08 am ET

Maybe it took the financial collapse to get the message across.....let's all work together for a common good.

I'm proud of President Obama and the way he represents this country. Maybe we'll all end up winning.

Mississippi Mike   July 6th, 2009 11:08 am ET

Obama is a fool for thinking he can woo the Russian government. There's no way Medvedev is going to fall in love with our beloved leader and weaken his military to make Obama happen. Either Obama has an ulterior motive or he is encredibly naive. Also, isn't Hillary Clinton supposed to be doing these kinds of things? Where is Hillary?

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   July 6th, 2009 11:06 am ET

This is a positive step forward for U.S.-Russian relations.

Hugo   July 6th, 2009 11:05 am ET

Now if Obama can just get North Korea and Iran to fall in line we will all be safe and snug in our foreclosed homes!

RealityKing   July 6th, 2009 11:01 am ET

In light of Obama's weak presidency.., America has been Overcharged again.

Of course, when CNN doesn't like the responses on their blog they just change it to "Permalink". See Congress blog.. And surely much like their polling director/Obama supporter does with his undesirable poll question responses..

Bella Downell   July 6th, 2009 10:59 am ET

This is such a silly thing. Imagine! A legal treaty? Who's going to sue after one side or the other destroys the other with nukes?

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