Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that Russia would be suspending its participation from the New START treaty with the United States. The treaty essentially limits each country’s nuclear arsenal.
Speaking to a joint session of Russian Parliament and Kremlin officials, Putin stated that the war in Ukraine was an existential struggle against the West.
According to Putin, “It is absolutely unacceptable that the U.S. is redefining the world order based on their selfish interests” adding, “we’re getting to do what we please.”
Putin delivered his remarks days before the one-year anniversary of their full-blown invasion of Ukraine.
“They are the ones who started this war, and we are using our forces to put a stop to it,” Putin claimed. He continued, “There is no connection between START and the conflict in Ukraine and the hostile activities of the western countries as they claim they want to achieve as strategic defeat. This is utter hypocrisy.”
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) was first signed in April 2010, and its primary aim is to reduce the number of nuclear weapons held by the United States and Russia. The treaty limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550, which is a 30% reduction from the limit set by the previous treaty. It also restricts the number of deployed delivery vehicles, such as missiles and bombers, to 700.
The New START treaty has been an essential agreement in promoting global peace and security as well as a framework for the U.S. and Russia to discuss arm control issues. The future now remains uncertain as Putin announces this very daring decision.
Tweet posted by writer and lawyer, Amee Vanderpool sharing a snippet of Putin’s address:
Following Biden's impromptu visit to Ukraine to show unwavering US support against Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin announces that Russia will suspend its observation of the New START nuclear weapons treaty: "We are going to do as we please." pic.twitter.com/SAu0XEdFo6
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) February 21, 2023
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