Russian suspension of nuclear agreement

MSNBC and CBS are reporting that Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday that Moscow is suspending its participation in the New START treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States. In response, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Russia’s move “deeply unfortunate and irresponsible” and stated that the U.S. would be watching carefully to see what Russia does. Putin also said that Russia should stand ready to resume nuclear weapons tests if the U.S. does so, which would end a global ban on nuclear weapons tests that has been in place since the Cold War. Putin accused the U.S. and its NATO allies of openly declaring the goal of Russia’s defeat in Ukraine as the reason for suspending Russia’s obligations under New START. Credit to MSNBC and CBS for reporting this news.