Putin hails US nuclear arms treaty

MOSCOW - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin praised the New START nuclear arms treaty with the United States on Wednesday in his first remarks on the pact since the US Senate approved it last week.

Putin lauded President Dmitry Medvedev for forging the treaty with President Barack Obama - a clear signal of approval for the agreement from Russia's paramount leader, who also stands to benefit from the improvement in bilateral ties.

He told reporters the pact was an "unconditional success for President Medvedev in foreign policy".