During his annual address to his country’s elite this Tuesday (21), Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the suspension of Russia’s participation in the New START treaty signed with the United States. With the departure, Washington started to be alert about new weapons that Russia might consider putting into combat.
The agreement – signed in 2010 by Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev and valid until 2026 – provided for the control of nuclear weapons remaining from the Cold War period, with the commitment of not deploying more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and 700 missiles and bombing long range.
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Putin also communicated that he would make a new type of weapon available, without detailing whether it would be nuclear or of another nature. He justified that people in Washington thought about going back with nuclear tests. Therefore, the Russian Ministry of Defense and the nuclear corporation would need to be ready to test Russian nuclear weapons as well.
“Of course we won’t do it first. But if the United States conducts tests, then we will. Nobody should have dangerous illusions that global strategic parity can be destroyed.”
Vladimir Putin
president of russia
To complete, still in his speech, Vladimir Putin reinforced that he will maintain the military operation in Ukraine and criticized the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for stirring up the conflict and believing that Moscow could be defeated in the conflict.
rivals respond
In response to the Russian president’s speech, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he regretted Russia’s suspension of the New START agreement and asked Putin to reconsider the act.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the Russian government’s announcement “unfortunate” and “irresponsible”. He also added that the US country will be adequately positioned for the security of its own territory and that of allies.
What is your assessment of Putin’s attitude to cancel the New START treaty? Tell us in the space provided for comments.