Ukraine reacted to Russiaʼs decision to suspend participation in the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty

Ukraine called Russiaʼs decision to suspend participation in Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty another provocative step.

The position was published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ukraine emphasizes that Russia continues the deliberate destruction of the existing architecture of nuclear disarmament.

"By undermining one of the most important international treaties in the field of nuclear arms control, Russia makes another defiant challenge to the world community, confirms its criminal nature, and further aggressive intentions to destroy international peace and security. Moscowʼs rhetoric regarding the possibility of using nuclear weapons is unacceptable and endangers the security of the entire world," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Therefore, Ukraine calls on the international community to provide a decisive response to Russiaʼs aggressive behavior, to take urgent joint measures to prevent and counter any forms of nuclear blackmail.

The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty is one of the main agreements between the USA and the USSR, and then Russia, in the matter of control over the nuclear weapons of both countries. The United States and Russia signed it in 2010, it is valid until 2026. The agreement stipulates that Russia and the United States will jointly reduce their nuclear warheads, as well as the possible carriers of nuclear weapons, from missiles to strategic bombers. This should be controlled by bilateral inspections: that is, representatives of Russia and the USA have the right to visit each otherʼs nuclear facilities and personally check whether each country is really reducing its nuclear weapons.

• On February 21, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian Federation was suspending its participation in the Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty. Putin emphasized that it is about a suspension, not a complete withdrawal from the agreement. The reason is that other Western nuclear powers continue to develop their nuclear weapons and insist on access to Russian nuclear facilities. In addition, he stated that the US allegedly continues to develop new nuclear weapons and is preparing for tests.
• The bilateral consultative commission, which deals with practical issues of the implementation of the Treaty on the SNO, last met in Geneva in October 2021. In the summer of 2022, the Russian side did not allow the American delegation to its nuclear missiles.