Article Author:
Associated Press
Vladimir Isachenkov
MOSCOW (AP) -- On Monday, Russia announced a freeze on U.S. inspections of nuclear weapons under a pivotal arms control treaty. Western sanctions prevented similar visits to U.S. facilities by Russian observers.
The move reflects growing tensions between Moscow and Washington over Russian military actions in Ukraine, with the Kremlin suspending US inspections for the first time under the New START Nuclear Weapons Control Treaty. It is shown that.
In declaring a freeze on inspections by the United States, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that sanctions, visa restrictions, and other obstacles to Russian flights imposed by the United States and its allies meant that Russian military experts said it had become virtually impossible to visit US nuclear facilities. Weapons site, giving US a 'unilateral advantage'.
Since its inception, Moscow has closed its skies to 27 European Union countries, the United Kingdom and Canada (but not the United States), despite US inspections. officials claim to have faced no such difficulties. Ukrainian conflict in late February. Russia said at the time that exceptions would be made for diplomatic missions and deliveries of humanitarian aid.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued that the freeze was temporary and permitted by the agreement "in exceptional cases."
Russia noted that New START was "very much appreciated", adding that inspections could be resumed after issues impeding inspections were resolved.
"Russia is fully committed to complying with all provisions of the New START, which is viewed as an important tool for maintaining international security and stability," the ministry said. , which "prompted a thorough investigation of all existing issues" in this area, the successful resolution of which would allow all verification mechanisms of the Convention to be fully applied as soon as possible.
"After the issue of resuming inspection activities under the treaty is resolved, we will immediately lift the announced exemption from inspection activities," the ministry said.
The New START Treaty, signed by President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in 2010, limits countries to deploy no more than 1,550 nuclear warheads and no more than 700 missiles and bombers. and envisions a full on-site inspection. Check compliance.
Days before New START expired in February 2021, Russia and the United States agreed to extend it for another five years.
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Joanna Kozlowska of London contributed to this report.