On-site inspections of Russian and U.S. nuclear arsenals under the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty will begin in April, Russia's deputy foreign minister said on Thursday.
The treaty came into effect on February 5 after being approved by the U.S. Senate and the Russian parliament.
"According to the treaty, the first inspections should begin within 60 days [after entry into force]," Sergei Ryabkov told reporters in Moscow.
The treaty, signed in April by the presidents of Russia and the United States, Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama, trims both nations' nuclear arsenals to a maximum of 1,550 nuclear warheads, down from the current ceiling of 2,200.
MOSCOW, March 17 (RIA Novosti)