The US Senate today ratified an arms control treaty with Russia that reins in nuclear weapons, giving President Barack Obama a major foreign policy win in the closing hours of the post-election Congress.

Thirteen Republicans broke with their top two leaders and joined 56 Democrats and two independents in providing the necessary two-thirds vote to approve the treaty. The vote was 71-26.

The accord, which must still be approved by Russia, would restart on-site weapons inspections as successors to president Ronald Reagan have embraced his edict of "trust but verify".

Vice President Joe Biden presided over the Senate and announced the vote. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton observed the vote from the Senate floor. Both had lobbied vigorously for the treaty's approval.

"The question is whether we move the world a little out of the dark shadow of nuclear nightmare," Foreign Relations Committee chairman John Kerry said to his colleagues moments before the tally.