Bush and Yeltsin sign START II treaty

The START II treaty, signed by U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin, aimed to further reduce the nuclear arsenals of both nations. This treaty followed the earlier Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I), which had already established a framework for nuclear disarmament. The START II treaty specifically sought to eliminate multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) on intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and to reduce the number of strategic nuclear warheads to 3,000-3,500 for each country. The agreement was a significant step in the post-Cold War era, reflecting a mutual commitment to reducing the threat of nuclear conflict and promoting stability in international relations. The treaty was seen as a continuation of the cooperative spirit that characterized U.S.-Russia relations following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as both leaders recognized the need for a new security framework in a changing geopolitical landscape.