Russia and US pledge to finalise nuclear cuts

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama and Kremlin leader Dmitry Medvedev agreed outline cuts in nuclear arsenals and a deal to let US troops fly across Russia, on the first day of an Obama visit intended to mend strained relations.

The two countries, which between them possess 95% of the world’s nuclear weapons, pledged to finalise a new arms treaty cutting the number of deployed warheads to between 1,500 and 1,675 from above 2,200.

Russia will also allow 4,500 flights a year carrying US troops and weapons to the war in Afghanistan to transit its vast territory free of charge, a move hailed by the US as showing Moscow’s willingness to help in the war on the Taliban.