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Russia’s New START suspension

Federation Council unanimously passes bill on suspension of New START Treaty

The treaty was signed by Russia and the US in Prague on April 8, 2010, and provides for reduction of both countries’ nuclear arsenals

Federation Council Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Federation Council

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. Russia’s Federation Council unanimously passed the bill on suspension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction (New START) Treaty Wednesday.

The document was introduced to the State Duma by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Duma unanimously passed the bill earlier on Wednesday. The effect of the New START Treaty is now being suspended, and the decision to restore it will be for the Russian President to make. The law will enter into effect at the moment of its official publication.

The treaty was signed by Russia and the US in Prague on April 8, 2010, and provides for reduction of both countries’ nuclear arsenals. On Tuesday, Putin announced the decision to suspend Russia’s participation in the treaty in his address to the Federal Assembly on Tuesday. The President underscored that Russia does not withdraw from the treaty, but it needs to understand how nuclear arsenals of other NATO states - the UK and France - will be accounted for under the treaty before the Treaty could be restored.

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