Russia's Putin signs law to suspend New START nuclear arms treaty

ISTANBUL (AA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law suspending Russia's participation in the only remaining arms control treaty with the US, the New START treaty, local media reported on Tuesday.

Russian news agency TASS reported that the document was published on Tuesday and the law came into force as of the moment of its official publication.

“A decision to resume Russia's participation in the treaty can be made by the head of state,” the agency added.

Putin also signed a law on the termination of international treaties of the Council of Europe with respect to the Russian Federation.

Last week, Putin said that Moscow was suspending the New START treaty with the US over its growing involvement in the Ukraine war.

Signed in 2010 and extended in 2021 for another five years, the treaty aims to control and reduce strategic nuclear forces used by the US and Russia.

The treaty limits the number of deployed missiles and bombers to 700, deployed warheads (including multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles and bombers) to 1,550, and deployed and non-deployed launchers – missile tubes and bombers – to 800.

Under the treaty, the sides may request information about up to five launches of missiles per year, should exchange information on the number of warheads and carriers twice a year – in March and September – and have the right to carry out up to 18 inspections per year.