<p><br /> The US Senate has approved a landmark nuclear arms control treaty with Russia.<br /> </p><p><br /> The vote handed US President Barack Obama a major foreign policy victory in his drive to improve ties with Moscow and curb the spread of atomic weapons to other nations.<br /> </p><p><br /> It was an endorsement of Obama's effort to improve relations with Russia and gave a lift to his drive to resume arms control in an attempt to curb the pursuit of nuclear weapons by countries like North Korea and Iran.<br /> </p><p><br /> The treaty will reduce long-range, strategic atomic weapons deployed by each country to no more than 1,550 within seven years. Deployed missile launchers would be cut to no more than 700.<br /> </p><p><br /> Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who signed the treaty with Obama in April, expressed optimism about the passage ahead of the Senate vote, saying: "I believe that it will be ratified."<br /> </p><p><br /> The treaty must still pass Russia's parliament, a move expected next spring.<br /> </p>
