国际英语新闻：Obama continues push for ratification of arms treaty with Russia

Although the White House and Senate Democratic leaders have expressed confidence about prospects for ratification, the fate of the treaty is uncertain in the Senate, where it requires a two-thirds vote for passage.

All 58 senators in the Democratic caucus are expected to back the treaty, but it needs Republican votes to reach the necessary 67 votes. A number of Republicans are supportive, but others continue to express reservations, despite entreaties from the Pentagon and prominent Republicans outside Congress, including former President George H.W. Bush.

The president also warned that failure to pass the treaty would harm warming relations with Russia.

"Without a new treaty, we'll risk turning back the progress we've made in our relationship with Russia, which is essential to enforce strong sanctions against Iran, secure vulnerable nuclear materials from terrorists, and resupply our troops in Afghanistan," Obama said. "And we'll risk undermining American leadership not only on nuclear proliferation, but a host of other challenges around the world."

Pushing for the pact's passage has been a top priority of the Obama administration. The pact was sent to the Senate in May, but did not win approval of the Foreign Relations Committee until September. Obama has put off his scheduled departure on Saturday for Honolulu, Hawaii, for vacation, but his wife and two girls will go as planned.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned earlier this month that Russia would build up its nuclear forces if the U.S. does not ratify the treaty. He also told cnn that it would be "very dumb" for lawmakers to block the treaty.

Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, has indicated that it would not ratify the treaty until it is ratified by the U.S. Senate.