The call to Putin: "Take back the decision"

Russian politics 

Russia pauses agreement on nuclear disarmament 

Of:  

Johanna Sundbeck, 

Anna Sjogren 

Published: Less than 3 hours ago 

Updated: Less than 2 hours ago  

NEWS  

Russia is suspending the nuclear disarmament agreement with the United States, President Vladimir Putin announced in his address to the nation 

- We must be ready to resume nuclear weapons tests if the US does so, says Putin.  

NATO urges Russia to reconsider the decision.  

Participation in the so-called START agreement (Strategic arms reduction treaty), an agreement with the US that deals with nuclear disarmament, is now being put on hold. This is what Russian President Vladimir Putin says at the end of his nearly two-hour long address to the nation on Monday.  

The START agreement was signed in Prague in 2010 and extended for a five-year period in 2021. However, Russia is not withdrawing from the program – but it will not participate.  

Putin says Russia must be ready to resume nuclear tests if the US does, Sky News reports.

Foto: Dmitry Astakhov / AP

"New Weapon Systems" 

 At the same time, he talked about new weapons systems in his speech. Russia will strengthen the army's weapons by implementing the latest technology. 

- Work on equipping the army with new weapon systems began before the operation and that work should continue. We have very advanced weapons but we will have even more, he says.  

The war has been started by the West, Putin says further and accuses the Western countries of warmongering and lies. Russia has done its utmost to hold peace negotiations and do everything to prevent war, he claims. 

- They started the war and we used military means to stop it, says Putin, referring to Ukraine. 

          

           Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: Olivier Matthys / AP  

Stoltenberg: Reconsider the break 

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg holds a press conference shortly after Vladimir Putin addresses the nation. He says that NATO wants Russia to reevaluate the pause in the nuclear agreement with the United States, writes Reuters. 

- More nuclear weapons and less control make the world more dangerous. That is why NATO has worked hard to involve Russia in these kinds of issues. We see no sign that he is planning for peace. Today, Putin made it clear that he is planning for more war, says Stoltenberg and continues:  

- He thought he could destroy Ukraine and divide us. But he underestimated the willingness of Ukrainians to defend their homeland and our unity. Putin must not win, it shows that aggression works. It is dangerous for the security of the whole world. Putin during the speech.  

 

Putin during the speech.