Republican Senator Jon Kyl is seen as key to winning enough support to ratify the new START treaty. White House officials have briefed him about the Obama administration's plan to add billions of dollars for maintaining and modernizing U.S. nuclear stockpile.

Obama told reporters upon returning to Washington that he expected to "work with Senator Kyl," saying he shares his desire to ensure a modern U.S. arsenal.

The new START, signed by Obama and Medvedev in Prague in April, replaces the 1991 pact that expired in December last year. The new treaty stipulates that the number of nuclear warheads be reduced to 1,550 on each side over seven years, while the number of delivery vehicles, both deployed and non-deployed, must not exceed 800.

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved in September the new START treaty, clearing the way for a vote on the Senate floor.

The U.S. and Russian presidents had agreed that the ratification process should be simultaneous.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed hope last Friday that new START treaty would be ratified before the end of this year.

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