The State Duma will consider the presidential bill on Russia's suspension of the New START

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By TASS - February 21, 2023, 18:03

MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. The State Duma at a plenary session on Wednesday plans to discuss a bill on the suspension by the Russian Federation of the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START, START-3).

According to the document, the decision on the resumption of Russia's participation in the treaty will be made by the President of the Russian Federation.

The bill was submitted to the State Duma on Tuesday by Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the document, the START is suspended, and the decision to resume Russia's participation in the treaty will be made by the President of the Russian Federation. It is also indicated that the law will come into force from the day of its official publication.

The intention of the deputies to consider the bill on Wednesday was announced by the Speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin. He also added that immediately after consideration, the document will be sent to the Federation Council. Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, will represent the President of Russia during the consideration of the bill.

About the Agreement

The agreement was concluded between Russia and the United States, it involves the reduction of the nuclear arsenals of both countries. On the decision to suspend Russia's participation in START Putin announced on Tuesday, speaking with a message to the Federal Assembly.

He stressed that Russia does not withdraw from the treaty, but before returning to discussing the issue of continuing work in accordance with this document, the Russian side must understand for itself how the START will take into account the arsenals not only of the United States but also of other NATO nuclear powers - UK and France.

In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry, in its statement, noted that Russia's decision to suspend its participation in the START Treaty is reversible, and called on Washington "to show political will, make conscientious efforts for a general de-escalation and create conditions for the resumption of the full functioning of the treaty."

In addition, the department clarified that Russia, despite the decision to suspend the START, will continue to comply with the quantitative restrictions provided for by it for the duration of its validity.

In addition, the Russian side will continue to participate in the exchange of notifications with Washington on launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and ballistic missiles of submarines on the basis of the relevant agreement between the USSR and the USA in 1988, the ministry noted.

The Foreign Ministry also added that Russia is going to closely monitor the further actions of the United States and its allies "both in the field of strategic offensive arms and in general in the field of international security and strategic stability, and also analyze them for damage to Russian interests" and the need to adopt additional countermeasures from Moscow.