Bush, Putin agree to deep nuclear arms arsenal cuts

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin both pledged Tuesday to slash Cold War-era nuclear arsenals by two-thirds, to levels unseen in decades, but remained at odds over American plans to develop a missile defense shield.

After three hours of talks, Bush said the United States could be left with as few as 1,700 nuclear warheads. Putin did not mention any figures, but has previously suggested going as low as 1,500.

The United States currently has about 7,000 nuclear warheads. Russia has about 5,800, but can’t afford to keep them.

The talks move today to Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas, where U.S. officials held out some hope for accord on nagging differences over the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

In a blizzard of paper, the pair formalized a series of agreements to combat bioterrorism, bolster the Russian economy, battle money laundering that finances terrorism and strengthen Russia’s ties to NATO.

"You’re the kind of guy I like to have in a foxhole with me," Bush said earlier, according to a participant.

It was the issue of weapons that underscored their greatest agreement and disagreement.

Under Bush’s plan, warheads would be removed from U.S. missiles but would not be fully dismantled, advisers said. The physical job of removing the warheads is time-consuming, which is why Bush set a 10-year time frame.

There were small signs of discord.

Putin said he wanted the nuclear targets in writing, "including the issues of verification and control." The U.S. president said it was enough that he had "looked the man in the eye and shook his hand."

But Bush said he would be willing put the agreement in writing.