Moscow — Highlighting tensions that threaten newly warm U.S.-Russian relations, Russia's Foreign Ministry bristled Thursday at the Pentagon's plan to downsize American nuclear arsenals by putting weapons in reserve rather than destroying them.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said the cuts must be "irreversible" when the United States fulfills President Bush's promise to reduce the number of operational nuclear warheads by two-thirds, to 1,700-2,200, by 2012.
The issue of what to do with nuclear weapons removed from duty has dominated U.S.-Russian arms control talks since the 1970s. The latest statements from both sides signal tough bargaining ahead.
U.S. and Russian diplomats are expected to meet next week in Washington to discuss details and a timetable for the cuts in preparation for Bush's trip later this year to Russia.
Bush promised the cuts to Russian President Vladimir Putin in November. They would put the U.S. arsenal far below the 6,000 nuclear warheads each country is currently allowed under START I.
Putin has promised to reduce the number of Russian warheads to as low as 1,500.
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