The effects of Start II

The communists think the treaty will make Russia a target

The BBC's Defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus looks at what the Start II treaty reductions will mean for the nuclear arsenals of Russia and the United States.

The Duma's ratification of Start II would clear the way for significant reductions in the nuclear arsenals of both Russia and the US.

Today the US has nearly 8,000 warheads while the Russians have a little over 6,500.

Under Start II these arsenals would be almost halved dropping to no more than 3,500 warheads each.

Furthermore all land-based ballistic missiles with multiple-warheads would be eliminated.

These were seen by the treaty's drafters as highly destabilising weapons - a tempting target for a pre-emptive nuclear attack - and thus a weapon that a country might seek to use rather than lose.

Tough talking ahead

Of course today's world is very different from that when the treaty was first signed seven years ago.

But Start II is still important.

Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov tried to block the treaty

Its ratification by the Duma would be a clear indication that the new Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin is a man who can deliver results.

Its passage has the potential for ushering in a new, more constructive period in relations between Washington and Moscow, transcending differences over Kosovo and Chechnya.

But most important of all, the ratification of Start II will clear the way for potential progress on the next round of strategic arms talks.

Both countries believe that their nuclear arsenals can be cut even further.

Both could save money by taking unnecessary weapons out of service.

But the next steps in nuclear arms control could be hampered by Washington's proposals for limited defences against missile attack - something that Moscow opposes.

There could be some tough talking ahead.