美国与俄罗斯商议削减核武器

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Good evening and welcome to SBS World News Australia. I'm Janice Peterson. And I'm Anton Enus.

US President Barack Obama has this evening appealed for Russia to respect democracy after meeting the man regarded as the real power behind the throne in Moscow, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Their talks followed a landmark deal between the US leader and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to cut their nuclear arsenals. It's hoped the agreements on Mr. Obama's first visit to Russia as American President could herald a new era of cooperation between the two countries.

Guess who is coming to dinner? The Medvedevs welcome the Obamas for a private soiree at their home, no officials in sight. So with just the eyes of the entire world upon them, the two leaders and their wives set about enjoying a relaxed evening that many hope will be reflected in a new era of US-Russia relations. Earlier, amid the gilded splendour of the Kremlin, the two leaders agreed to cut their nuclear arsenals and in so doing signal perhaps the end of the freeze.

"As the world's two leading nuclear powers, the United States and Russia, must lead by example, and that's what we are doing here today."

"Our teams have done a fantastic job, and we have reached a good compromise. The figures we are announcing today will lead to a new binding treaty."

Due by the end of the year, the new treaty will replace the regime implemented at the end of the Cold War when Russia had over 11,000 strategic nuclear warheads. Today it has just under 3,000. In 1990, America had more than 13,000 warheads. Now it has just over 2,000. The new treaty will cut each to about 1,600. A raft of other agreements were announced at the Moscow summit including transit rights for America's military effort in Afghanistan. But there's still a stalemate over America's plans for a missile defense system in Europe. And they had to agree to disagree over Georgia. Analysts say the relationship still has a long way to go.

"The whole strategic thinking now should be reversed, don’t we? Because we are not enemies. Unfortunately, we're not allies, but we are not enemies. And the way out of the situation is, of course, the development of the joint defense posture."

He might still have one foot in the past as President Obama controversially put it ahead of this visit, but Vladimir Putin is not to be denied. Obama met the man still considered by most to be Russia's de facto leader for a breakfast meeting at his country residence.

Jane Braslin, World News Australia.

Glossary [only for reference]

the throne: the position and power of being a king or queen
arsenal [countable]: a large group of weapons that someone has
herald [transitive]: to be a sign of something that is going to come or happen soon
soiree (soiree) [countable]: a formal or fashionable evening party
set about doing something [phrasal verb]: to start doing or dealing with something, especially something that needs a lot of time and effort
gilded [adjective]: covered or highlighted with gold or something of a golden color.
splendour [uncountable]: impressive beauty, especially of a large building or large place
freeze [countable]: the stopping of some activity or process
a binding treaty: a promise, agreement etc that must be obeyed
regime [countable]: a particular system - used especially when talking about a previous system, or one that has just been introduced
stalemate [countable]: a situation in which it seems impossible to settle an argument or disagreement, and neither side can get an advantage
missile defense system: national missile defense (NMD) as a generic term is a type of missile defense: a military strategy and associated systems to shield an entire country against incoming Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). The missiles could be intercepted by other missiles, or possibly by lasers.
de facto: formal; really existing although not legally stated to exist