Whirlwind visit for the Obamas

LONDON — President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed Wednesday to open negotiations on a treaty that could slash nuclear arsenals by a third as part of what they said would be a new era in relations between the two countries.

The agreement, the result of the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders and on the eve of the Group of 20 meeting today, included a promise by Obama to visit Moscow this summer to pursue the talks.

"What I believe we've begun today is a very constructive dialogue that will allow us to work on issues of mutual interest," Obama said.

The current treaty, which took effect in 1994, limits the world's two largest nuclear arsenals to between 1,700 and 2,200 nuclear warheads, but expires Dec. 5. A new treaty conceivably could cut arsenals to 1,500 warheads.

It was a busy day for Obama and his wife, Michelle.

The president declined a reporter's request to comment on England's soccer team for its World Cup qualifying match and offered campaign tips to embattled British Prime Minister Gordon Brown ("good policy is good politics," he said).

The president and first lady had a chance to talk dinosaurs with Brown's young sons — and to snare two hours of quality time with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

"As you might imagine, Michelle has been really thinking that through," Obama said. "Because I think in the imagination of people throughout America, I think what the queen stands for and her decency and her civility, what she represents, that's very important."

Undeterred by a head cold, Obama also held one-on-one talks with some of the other leaders in town, including Chinese President Hu Jintao.

That meeting brought another announcement of foreign travel. White House officials said the president would go to China in the second half of the year.

The leaders announced a new mechanism for U.S.-China dialogue that is intended to broaden discussion and give it fresh weight.

The day ended with dinner cooked by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, known for his TV shows. The menu included organic farmed salmon served with foraged samphire and sea kale; lamb from North Wales; potatoes, asparagus and wild St. George mushrooms; wild garlic; and homemade Irish soda bread. Dessert? A traditional Bakewell tart with homemade jams and ginger shortbread.

Compiled from the Chicago Tribune and The Associated Press