MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. The United States has destroyed the architecture of global stability by ceasing to honor its commitments and rejecting Russia’s proposals on global security, State Duma (the lower house of parliament) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on Wednesday.
"When it comes to the security of our country and people, using the language of ultimatums with Russia is unacceptable. Today, the State Duma is considering Vladimir Putin’s initiative to suspend the Russia-US Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms," he wrote on Telegram. "By refusing to comply with its obligations and rejecting our country’s proposals on global stability, the US has destroyed the architecture of global stability," Volodin added.
He emphasized that the current situation was the result of Washington’s foreign policy. "Members of the US Congress need to understand the situation that Biden is to blame for, as well as its potential consequences," the Russian parliament speaker concluded.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on Tuesday that Russia was suspending its participation in the New START treaty. He explained that changes were long overdue as the US was not the only country with nuclear capabilities among NATO members, and before resuming activities under the treaty, Russia needed to figure out how their arsenals would be taken into account. According to a bill submitted to the State Duma, Russia suspends its participation in the treaty and the president will make a decision on its resumption. The law will enter into force on the day of its official publication.