A new arms reduction agreement between America and Russia has meant that both countries today successfully agreed on cutting their number of nuclear warheads by up to a third, by the end of this year.

President Obama and President Medvedev signed the framework deal on a summit at the Kremlin.

The agreement also included Moscow allowing America to fly its troops and weapons across its territory to Afghanistan. 

There was also very small signs of progress concerning Washinton's plans to host elements of a missle defence shield in Eastern Europe. 

Russia sees Eastern Europe as its own backyard, and so it is a sensitive matter. 

America have insisted that the shield would not be aimed at Russia, but instead would be aimed at potential rogue nuclear states like North Korea. 

Both presidents have suggested that the plan will be sorted out over time. 

They have also agreed that "within seven years after this treaty comes into force, and in future, the limits for strategic delivery systems should be within the range of 500-1000 units". 

Rough estimates for the current nuclear stockpiles of each country stand at around 2200 in America and 2790 for Russia.