U.S. says Russia’s suspension of new START treaty “invalid”

Russia’s claimed suspension of the New START Treaty is legally invalid so Russia remains bound by its obligations under the treaty.

That’s according to a statement by the U.S. Department of State, Ukrinform reports.

“The United States remains ready to work constructively with Russia to fully implement the treaty,” the statement reads.

The Department of State listed a number of facts about Russia failing to follow up on the commitments undertaken.

Russia is refusing to allow inspections. The treaty requires each Party to accept 18 inspections per year.  Inspections strengthen nuclear stability by giving both sides confidence that the treaty’s limits on nuclear weapons are being respected, the statement notes. Russia also refuses to meet in the treaty’s implementation body, the Bilateral Consultative Commission (BCC) and has stopped providing its treaty-mandated notifications, including on the status and movement of its accountable nuclear forces. 

“Russia can easily remedy its noncompliance by resuming activities it conducted for years under the treaty: host inspections, meet in the BCC, and provide notifications and data,” the diplomats stress.

At the same time, the U.S. remain ready to further host Russian inspectors.

The United States remains in full compliance with the New START Treaty despite Moscow’s false claims of violations on Washington’s side.

As reported earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2023 said Russia was suspending participation in the new START Treaty – the agreement reached between the USSR and USA in 1991 on nuclear non-proliferation control.