The United States is likely to ratify a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia by the end of this year, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Friday.

The new START treaty was signed on April 8 in Prague, replacing the START 1 treaty that expired in December 2009. The new pact obligates both nations to limit their fielded strategic nuclear weapons to 1,550 warheads, while the number of deployed and non-deployed delivery vehicles must not exceed 800 on either side.

"We are waiting for the corresponding decisions from the Senate. The foreign affairs commission's meeting is scheduled for September 15 or 16, and our U.S. colleagues have assured us a positive decision on ratification will be taken there," Konstantin Kosachev said in an interview with the Russia 24 TV channel.

Russia will follow the same course towards ratification in both the State Duma and Federation Council, Kosachev said.

The Russian and U.S. presidents earlier agreed that the ratification processes should be simultaneous.

MOSCOW, September 3 (RIA Novosti)