Russia suspends only remaining major nuclear treaty with USMOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Tuesday that Moscow was suspending its participation in the New START treaty — the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States — sharply upping the ante amid tensions with Washington over the fighting in Ukraine. Explaining his decision to suspend Russia's obligations under the 2010 New START treaty, Putin accused the U.S. and its NATO allies of openly declaring the goal of Russia's defeat in Ukraine. The New START treaty envisages caps on the number of nuclear weapons and broad inspections of nuclear sites. Then-presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev signed the New START treaty in 2010. “In this situation, Rosatom (Russia's state nuclear corporation) and the Defense Ministry must ensure readiness for Russian nuclear weapons tests,” Putin said.
