Russian politicians endorse suspension of nuclear pact with US

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the country would respect the caps on nuclear weapons set under the treaty and keep notifying the US about test launches of ballistic missiles.

Russian politicians attend a session at the State Duma (The State Duma/The Federal Assembly of The Russian Federation/AP)

Both houses of Russia’s parliament have quickly endorsed President Vladimir Putin’s move to suspend the last remaining nuclear arms treaty with the United States, with officials and politicians casting it as an 11th-hour warning to Washington amid the tensions over Ukraine.

Mr Putin declared that Moscow was suspending its participation in the 2010 New Start treaty in his state-of-the-nation address on Tuesday, saying Russia cannot accept US inspections of its nuclear sites under the pact while Washington and its Nato allies have openly declared the goal of Russia’s defeat in Ukraine.