Bush to Cut U.S. Nuclear Stockpile

W A S H I N G T O N, Nov. 13 -- In a gesture aimed at easing Russian opposition to a missile defense shield, President Bush announced today that he would eliminate more than two-thirds of the U.S. offensive nuclear stockpile.

"The current levels of our nuclear forces do not reflect today's strategic realities," Bush said at a joint White House news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I have informed President Putin that the United States will reduce our operationally deployed strategic nuclear warheads to a level between 1,700 and 2,200 over the next decade, a level fully consistent with American security."

The United States has about 7,000 deployed warheads, against about 6,000 in Russia. At the end of the Cold War, each nation had as many as 10,000 warheads at the ready.

Russia Hesitates

Having just heard Bush's offer at a working lunch, Putin stopped short of agreeing to cut Russia's arsenal.

"We appreciate very much the decision by the president to reduce strategic offensive weapons," Putin said through an interpreter. "We, for our part, will try to respond in kind."

But while Putin said he wanted more than just a handshake deal with Bush — a "reliable and verifiable agreement" — the Russian leader said the days of gunning for the United States are over.

"We intend to dismantle, conclusively, the vestiges of the Cold War," Putin said, "and to develop a new, entirely new partnership for the long term."

But sharp differences still remain on the next step. Bush wants to tear up the ABM treaty, a 1972 agreement that bans defensive missiles, to make way for a U.S. missile shield. Putin wants to hold Bush to the treaty.

"The position of Russia remains unchanged," he said. "And we agreed to continue our dialogue and consultations on this."

Though the leaders will continue to discuss the matter over the next two days on Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, Secretary of State Colin Powell signalled that quick progress is not expected.

"You got the public statement thatyou're going to have to live with for a while," Powell said.