BERLIN, November 7. /TASS/. Despite the suspension of its participation in the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), Germany will stay committed to the national arms quotas under this treaty, the German Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

According to the ministry, Germany may return to the treaty if Russia changes its position.

"The German government, as well as its NATO allies, remain committed to European security. This also includes one of the CFE Treaty’s central principles, namely effective controls over conventional arms in Europe," the ministry said. "That is why Germany is ready to continue implementing certain measures envisaged by the treaty, such as the exchange of data with European countries concerned. Apart from that, the German government will continue to observe the national quotas concerning combat systems covered by the CFE Treaty."

"Today, the German government, in close coordination with NATO allies, made a decision to suspend the CFE Treaty. This means that neither Germany nor its allies are withdrawing from the CFE Treaty," it stressed. "In case Russia’s position changes cardinally, the implementation of the CFE Treaty may be resumed."

Russia’s withdrawal from the CFE Treaty "destroys one more pillar of the European architecture of security and arms control. Which was geared to limit conventional weapons in Europe," the ministry stressed. "Following Russia’s withdrawal, further implementation of the CFE Treaty loses most of its benefits in the area of the policy of security and arms control because the key goal of the CFE Treaty - ensuring the balance of conventional forces potential in Europe - cannot be reached without Russia."

The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier that the procedure of Russia’s withdrawal from the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe was completed overnight to November 7 and Moscow deems this document terminated.

The CFE Treaty was signed in 1990 and adapted in 1997. However, NATO countries did not ratify the adapted version of the CFE and have continued to adhere to the 1990 provisions, based on the conventional arms balance between NATO and the Warsaw Pact, which is non-existent now. On May 29, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law denouncing the treaty. The law came into force on June 9. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that the blame for the treaty’s termination will rest on the United States and its allies, who have opted for the path of confrontation.