Russia has announced that it will continue to respect the caps on nuclear weapons under the New Start arms control treaty with the US, despite President Vladimir Putin’s earlier claims that Moscow would suspend its participation in the pact. The Russian Foreign Ministry also stated that the country will continue to exchange information about test launches of ballistic missiles under earlier agreements with Washington. This move comes as tensions between Russia and the US have escalated over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24 last year.
In his annual state-of-the-nation address, Putin once again reiterated his stance on the conflict, casting his country and Ukraine as victims of Western double-dealing and claiming that Russia is fighting for its existence. He stated that Russia will not change its strategy and will continue to pursue its goals in Ukraine, despite the widespread condemnation of the war. Putin also warned that Russia may resume nuclear weapons tests if the US does so, a move that would end a global ban on such tests in place since the Cold War era.
Vladimir Putin (Via Vladimir Putin/Twitter)
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has emphasized the commitment of Poland and other allies of Ukraine over the past year, highlighting the importance of maintaining Western unity in the face of Russian aggression. Biden is set to deliver a speech on Tuesday, which is expected to focus on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine rather than engaging in a “rhetorical contest” with Putin.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement on the New Start treaty reflects the country’s commitment to maintaining arms control agreements with the US, despite the tension between the two nations. However, Putin’s rhetoric in his state-of-the-nation address has only served to further escalate the situation, and the threat of resumed nuclear weapons tests adds an additional layer of uncertainty to the already volatile situation. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the tensions between Russia and the West are likely to continue to dominate the international agenda for the foreseeable future. Keywords: Russia, US, New Start treaty, nuclear weapons, arms control, Ukraine, Putin, Biden, sanctions, military support, NATO.
