Bush Phones Putin to Discuss Arms Control
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Russian President Vladimir V. Putin and President Bush discussed arms control by telephone, their first contact since Bush announced Washington’s intention to withdraw from the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty.
A Kremlin statement said that Bush initiated the call and that both presidents pressed for intensified dialogue, two days after the sides agreed to hold talks on cutting their strategic nuclear arsenals.
Russia long opposed U.S. proposals to scrap the ABM treaty, which Washington says is outmoded and prevented development of a missile shield Washington says is needed to counter launches by “rogue” states.
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