Putin suspends Russia’s participation in remaining major nuclear treaty with US

Explaining his decision to suspend Russia’s obligations under the 2010 New Start treaty, Mr Putin accused the US and its Nato allies of openly declaring the goal of Moscow’s defeat in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives to deliver his annual state of the nation address in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (Ramil Sitdikov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia is suspending its participation in the New Start treaty — the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the US — sharply upping the ante amid tensions with Washington over the fighting in Ukraine.

Speaking in his state-of-the-nation address, he also said Russia should be ready to resume nuclear weapons tests if the US does so, a move that would end a global ban on nuclear weapons tests in place since the end of the Cold War.