MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law suspending Russia's participation in the strategic arms reduction treaty (New START). The document was published on Tuesday, February 28.
According to the law, the New START is suspended. A decision to resume Russia's participation in the treaty can be made by the head of state. The law takes effect as of the moment of its official publication.
Putin in a message to the Federal Assembly last week announced the suspension of Russia's participation in the New START Treaty. On February 22, the law was unanimously adopted by the State Duma and approved by the Federation Council.
In accordance with the federal law "On International Treaties of the Russian Federation", the president has the power to pause the operation of an international treaty recognized as mandatory by a federal law. The head of state can do this in situations requiring urgent action. Subsequent notification of the Federation Council and the State Duma and the submission of a relevant bill to the State Duma must follow.
New START
The Treaty between the United States and Russia on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (the New START Treaty) was signed in 2010 and took effect on February 5, 2011.
The document stipulated that seven years after its entry into force, each party should have no more than a total of 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and strategic bombers, as well as no more than 1,550 warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs and strategic bombers, and a total of 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers and strategic bombers.
On February 3, 2021, Russia and the United States exchanged notes on the completion of internal procedures necessary for the agreement on extending the term of the treaty for five years to take effect. On August 8, 2022, Russia informed the United States it was temporary pausing New START inspections of its facilities. As the Russian Foreign Ministry explained, it was a forced decision made against the backdrop of anti-Russian sanctions, imposed by the West after the start of the special military operation in Ukraine.