The Duma has ratified Kyoto with 334 ayes against 73 nays. All we need now is Putin's signature to signal approval of the Protocol. This for certain will happen soon thanks to Putin's explicit promise.

After the signature, 90 days later, the Kyoto Protocol, the dream that first gained momentum at the Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro, will be a reality.

And an excerpt from the article:

Washington said the pact was too costly and unfairly exempted large rapidly industrialising countries such as China and India.

But EU Commission President Romano Prodi said Russia's backing would put additional pressure on the United States to reconsider its position.

"The Kyoto Protocol may not be perfect but it is the only effective tool that is available to the international community," he said in a statement.

"The United States should not abstain from the one fight that is crucial for the future of mankind."

Bush asserts that war on terrorism requires global effort. How is he going to expect international cooperation while he himself refuses to work with the world is beyond me.

p/s - I somehow managed to mess up with my website template. I will not be able to repair it until next week at the very least.