Russia suspends participation in the START-III

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his address to the Federal Assembly, said that the country had decided to suspend participation in the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty of 2010 (START-III).

The Russian leader stressed that Russia does not withdraw from the agreement completely, but only suspends its participation. According to the president, before discussing the resumption of the New START, it is necessary to figure out how to take into account the nuclear potential of NATO countries. 

In particular, Russia is concerned about what countries such as France and the United Kingdom claim, and how to take into account their strategic arsenals, that is, the combined strike potential of the North Atlantic Alliance. 

Putin also noted that the decision to suspend participation in the agreement was due to the desire of Western countries to visit Russia's military and nuclear facilities with inspections, at the same time declaring their desire to inflict a strategic defeat on the Russian Federation.

Recall that the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was signed on April 8, 2010 by the Presidents of Russia and the United States, Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama. The State Duma and the Federation Council in 2021 ratified the agreement on the extension of the START until 2026.