Ina dramatic escalation of tensions with the United States over the conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow will suspend its participation in the New START treaty, the final major nuclear weapons control accord with the United States.
Russia Nuclear Weapon testing
In his state-of-the-nation speech, Mr. Putin also suggested that Russia should be prepared to begin nuclear weapons testing if the United States did so. Putin said that the United States and its NATO https://www.inpactimes.com/2023/02/22/ukrainezelenskywarnsofworldwar/partners had publicly declared the objective of Russia’s defeat in Ukraine, justifying his decision to suspend Russia’s responsibilities under the 2010 New Start deal.
He announced Russia’s withdrawal from the pact, saying, “They aim to inflict a strategic loss‘ on us and attempt to get to our nuclear facilities at the same time.” The full title of the New START agreement is The Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures to Further Reduce and Limit Strategic Offensive Arms.
Putin stopped Russia’s membership in the nuclear arms limitation treaty with the United States, but the country’s Foreign Ministry said a few hours after his speech that it would continue to abide by the treaty’s restrictions on nuclear weapons. The Russian Foreign Ministry also confirmed that, following previous agreements with the United States, Moscow would continue sharing data on ballistic missile test launches. The pact plans for extensive inspections of nuclear installations and limits the total number of nuclear weapons because the United States and its allies have said that they want to defeat Russia militarily in Ukraine, Mr. Putin has stated that such inspections are pointless.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States criticized Putin’s action, calling it “very sad and irresponsible,” and adding that the United States will “be watching closely to see what Russia does.” Although stressing that “we remain ready to speak about strategic weapons constraints at any moment,” he said, “we’ll, of course, make sure that in any case we are postured adequately for the security of our nation and that of our allies.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has also expressed disappointment with Putin’s decision, stating, “with today’s decision on New START, comprehensive weapons control infrastructure has been demolished.” “When asked by reporters, he said, “I strongly advise Russia to rethink its decision and respect existing accords.”
According to the U.S. Department of State, “preventing the United States from exercising essential rights under the treaty and undermines the sustainability of U.S.-Russian nuclear weapons control” occurs when Russia refuses to allow the inspections. It was said that Russian inspectors might check any facility in the United States at any time.
Putin disputed the American claim by claiming that Washington had denied several Russian requests to see particular U.S. sites. Full-scale inspections are prohibited by the treaty and would violate its terms “His words. “There isn’t much we can verify on their end.”
He said that the United States was developing nuclear weapons and was considering resuming the atomic testing that had been prohibited worldwide after the conclusion of the Cold War.
“In this circumstance, Rosatom (Russia’s state nuclear business) and the Defense Ministry must assure preparedness for Russian nuclear weapons tests,” Putin stated. We won’t be the pioneers in this field, but if the United States goes through with testing, we will, too. No one should have dangerous illusions that the global strategic parity may be destroyed.”
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of the United Nations has urged Russia and the United States to resume talks as soon as possible because “a world without nuclear arms control is a far more dangerous and unstable one with potentially catastrophic consequences,” according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
