One of the key points of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s message to parliament was the announcement of the suspension of the country’s participation in the Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty (START). RTVI has collected reactions to this decision.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
“I regret that Russia has decided to suspend its participation in the START treaty. I urge Russia to reconsider this decision and return to respecting the existing agreement. A situation in which there are more guns and less arms control makes the world more dangerous. [Россия совершает] a break with the rules-based global order that we have been building for decades, <…> the entire arms control architecture has been eliminated.
Head of European diplomacy Joseph Borell
“Russia’s announcement to suspend participation in START is another example of how Russia is destroying the security system built at the end of the Cold War. After this decision, we must think about new measures in international security.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken
“Very boring and irresponsible [решение]. [США будут] carefully monitor the actual actions of Russia to ensure that in any situation we will be able to properly ensure the security of our country and our allies.
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (I CAN )
“The suspension of the implementation of New START represents a dangerous and reckless decision by President Putin – Russia must immediately return to full compliance with the agreement and continue to adhere to restrictions on [ядерные] warheads.”
Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev
“The United States got what it deserved with its poor anti-Russian policy, i.e. the suspension of START-3. It is impossible to fight with Russia, pretending that strategic stability is business as usual. Serve you!
Head of the Presidium of the Russian Foreign and Defense Policy Council Fyodor Lukyanov
“That’s to be expected. It was not expected now, but that the arms control regime as it was, in fact, is no longer viable under the new political circumstances, has been talked about for a very long time. In the conditions of the Ukrainian military campaign, this has become very difficult. Putin has repeatedly clarified that the nuclear factor is not isolated, that is, it is connected with what is happening on the campaign fronts. But spoke [об этом] just declarative. Here is the withdrawal from the treaty or the suspension of the treaty and the allusion to the resumption of nuclear testing under certain conditions – this demonstrates [такую позицию]”If you think we’re bluffing exclusively with the nuclear factor, then you’re wrong to think so.”
Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov
“I think the decision to suspend Russia’s participation in the START treaty was unexpected for hostile countries. I strongly support this decision. It’s time for them to realize that playing cat and mouse with great power won’t work. Russia didn’t start the war, but she will stop it! Today we are in a holy war against Satan’s minions, and our victory is clear!
Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense Andrei Kartapolov
“We are suspending our participation in this treaty in response to the actions of our partners and are free to do whatever we want to keep our homeland safe. It will be necessary to increase the number of warheads – we will increase it, it will be necessary to increase the number of carriers – we will increase it, it is our right.
Head of the State Duma Committee for International Affairs, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Leonid Slutsky
“The suspension of participation in START is not a security threat, but rather an important signal to the collective West. Nuclear powers do not lose wars. And it is important that our formerly Western partners understand this <...> In the event that a suitable bill is presented, the State Duma Committee on International Affairs is ready to recommend it and prepare it for consideration in the plenary session as soon as possible. I have no doubt that it will receive unanimous support.
Vice President of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev
“The suspension means that the agreement remains in force. <...> Probably, from my point of view, the obligations under this agreement in terms of ceilings are also preserved, but the interaction with the other party is over. I hope <...> that the interest of ensuring the national security of Russia will allow us to remain within the limits established by the treaty. But our military must determine it. But from my perspective, the direct consequence of the president’s decision to suspend means that at this point we stop any interaction with the United States under this agreement.
Senator Alexei Pushkov
“The declaration on the suspension of Russia’s participation in START-3 is not a threat, but an important signal to the United States and the West regarding an extremely important area for their security. It is also a warning: the West’s course towards the strategic defeat of Russia is incompatible with the preservation of the current system of global nuclear security, the most important part of which is the START-3 treaty.
Former Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Army General Yuri Baluevsky
“The very fact of carrying out nuclear tests will make our Western adversaries reflect on the seriousness of Russia’s intentions to defend itself by any means available.”
nuclear physicist Dmitry Gorchakov
As far as I know, the suspension of strategic offensive armaments is not envisaged. It even has an end date until 2026. So formally either a break or a run. Indeed, and informally, it can be suspended. <...> This does not mean the possibility of testing nuclear weapons. Their prohibition is governed by other treaties and moratoriums, the breaking of which has not yet been mentioned. <...> It is unlikely that this “suspension” will lead to the accumulation of the Russian nuclear arsenal. Within certain limits this could be done without breaching the contract (it is now below the limit), incl. and its modernization. But it’s stupidly expensive, and we don’t have the time.”
political strategist Yevgeny Minchenko
“It’s a message to Biden, who today is going to speak to the Russian people.”
