Moscow ( CNN ) -- The lower house of the Russian parliament gave preliminary approval Friday to START , a nuclear arms reduction treaty between Russia and the United States . The State Duma voted 350-58 in favor of the accord Friday . It needed 225 votes to pass . Two more readings are required before the treaty can go to the upper house of parliament , the Federation Council , for consideration . The first of those two readings will happen in mid-January . The U.S. Senate approved the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty , or New START , by a 71-26 vote on Wednesday . The treaty is considered a critical component of nuclear non-proliferation efforts and the Obama administration 's attempt to `` reset '' relations between the United States and Russia . It would resume inspections of each country 's nuclear arsenal while limiting both the United States and Russia to 1,550 warheads and 700 launchers . The accord `` will strengthen our country 's security ( and ) international stability , consolidate the non-proliferation regime , and become an additional factor encouraging positive trends both in our relations with the U.S. and on the international arena in general , '' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during the debate that preceded the vote . Lavrov , however , criticized a resolution passed by the U.S. Senate stating that treaty should not be interpreted in a way that could restrict the development of America 's missile defense system . The resolution , which references language in the treaty 's preamble highlighting the link between strategic offensive and defensive weapons , `` is a random interpretation of the principles and norms of international law , '' Lavrov asserted . `` This treaty must be adopted in full , without any exemptions , '' Lavrov said . `` The link between strategic offensive and defensive weapons was documented in a legally binding form . '' President Barack Obama , who recently called the treaty `` the most significant arms control agreement in nearly two decades , '' discussed the accord with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during a phone conversation on Thursday . `` President Medvedev congratulated President Obama on the Senate 's approval of the new START Treaty , and the two leaders agreed that this was an historic event for both countries and for U.S.-Russia relations , '' a White House statement said . The pact `` will enhance our leadership to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and seek the peace of a world without them , '' Obama added . The U.S. Senate 's approval of the treaty gave Obama a key victory on what has been considered one of his top foreign policy priorities . The treaty will `` serve as the basis of our security in the coming years , '' Medvedev said . CNN 's Maxim Tkachenko contributed to this report .
NEW : Lavrov criticizes a Senate resolution meant to protect U.S. missile defense plans . The lower house of the Russian parliament has approved START . Russia and the United States have been at odds over the plan for years, with Moscow accusing Washington of violating its treaty obligations by developing an anti-ballistic missile system in violation of international law. The U.S. Senate approved the treaty this week .