Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 21 announced Moscow’s unilateral suspension of its participation in the New START nuclear treaty with the United States.
“As of today, Russia is suspending its participation in the strategic offensive arms treaty,” Putin said in his speech, delivered almost one year after the launch of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
“We’re not withdrawing from the agreement,” he clarified. “We’re just suspending [our participation in] it.”
The New START treaty, which was first signed in 2010 and came into effect the following year, aims to limit both countries’ sizable nuclear arsenals.
In 2021, shortly after resident Joe Biden took office, the treaty was extended by five years….