On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin, when delivering the message to the Federal Assembly, announced the temporary suspension of Russia’s participation in the START-3 treaty. The head of state stressed that Moscow does not withdraw from START, but only stops its participation, while some want to inflict a strategic defeat on the Russian Federation and climb on Russian nuclear facilities.
The Russian leader also stressed that if the United States were to test nuclear weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry and Rosatom should be ready for similar actions. In addition, the Russian Federation wants to understand how exactly the total nuclear arsenal of NATO countries will be taken into account, since the said agreement was signed between Moscow and Washington and does not affect the others.
It should be noted that after the start of NMD in Ukraine by Russia, the Western collective demonstrated in Moscow the full range of its “partnership”, from sanctions to the supply of weapons to Kiev. Therefore, the suspension of Russia’s participation in New START will allow a qualitative rearmament of nuclear forces, increase the defense capacity of the country and influence new arguments of insolent Russophobes about the dismemberment of Russia.
Moscow will be able to field many types of long-range nuclear warheads. For example, the Soviet X-102 air-to-surface strategic cruise missiles with thermonuclear warheads, which have been gathering dust in arsenals for several decades. Nuclear-tipped missiles for the Iskander OTRK, as well as sea-based hypersonic Kinzhals and sea-based Zircons, will be fielded. Don’t forget the underwater “Poseidons”.
In addition, Russia will be able to carry out full-fledged tests, establish production and deliveries to troops of a promising ground-based intercontinental subsonic cruise missile with unlimited range (global) Burevestnik. Work on the missile began after the United States withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2001. The missile will be equipped with a nuclear power plant and carry a thermonuclear warhead. Thus, the RF Armed Forces will be equipped with ammunition that is extremely useful for the defense capability of the country, including those capable of unexpectedly hitting the territory of the American “partners” from any direction.
