Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday suspended Russia’s participation in the nuclear arms control treaty. “In this regard, I am compelled to announce today that Russia is suspending its participation in the Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty,” Putin said in his address to the nation, given almost a year since the start of the war in Ukraine.
According to Reuters, Russia and the United States still possess vast arsenals of Cold War nuclear weapons, which are currently limited by the New START treaty, which was signed in 2010 and expires in 2026.
The Russian leader said that some people in Washington are considering resuming nuclear testing, and therefore the Russian Defense Ministry and the nuclear corporation should be prepared to test Russian nuclear weapons if necessary. “Of course we won’t be the first to do it. But if the US tests, then we will. No one should have dangerous illusions that global strategic parity can be destroyed,” he assured.