In a declaration signed by President Vladimir Putin, Russia announced May 10 its withdrawal from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, the 1990 pact hailed as the “cornerstone of European security.” The treaty limits the contracting parties, including most European powers and the United States, to no more than 20,000 tanks, 20,000 units of artillery, 30,000 armored combat vehicles, 6,800 combat aircraft and 2,000 attack helicopters stationed on the continent. Russia has failed to comply with the treaty’s provisions for detailed reports to other signatory states since 2007. Full withdrawal must be approved by the State Duma, where it is unlikely to meet opposition.
This marks a further development in the worrying trend of Russia’s abandonment of international norms since launching its war in Ukraine in February 2022. This Feb. 21, almost exactly a year after the start of the invasion, Moscow announced its withdrawal from the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the US. (Jurist, New Voice of Ukraine)
Image: Vitaly Kuzmin via CBRNPro.net
Russia withdraws from Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Oct 10 said that Moscow will pull out of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty to “mirror” the status of te US, but would only resume nuclear tests if Washington does it first. The United States is among eight nations that have failed to ratify the treaty, preventing it from beoming international law. (AP)
Russia begins de-ratifying Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Russia’s State Duma unanimously approved a bill to de-ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban (CTBT) Treaty in its first reading Oct. 17. Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said the Duma could formally adopt the bill this week. Volodin mentioned that the US has not ratified the CTBT, and further stated that the bill is a response to the United States’ “boorish attitude to its responsibilities in maintaining global security.” (Jurist)
NATO suspends participation in Conventional Forces Treaty
NATO announced Nov. 7 that it has suspended participation in the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, in response to Russia’s withdrawal from the pact. The statement said: “While recognizing the role of the CFE as a cornerstone of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture, a situation whereby Allied States Parties abide by the Treaty, while Russia does not, would be unsustainable.”