Putin signs law suspending Russia’s participation in key nuclear arms control treaty with America… as two Russian warships sail into Norwegian sea ahead of NATO drills
- Russia’s will withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty
- The treaty was jointly signed with the US to help prevent the risk of nuclear war
- It comes as two of Vladimir Putin’s ships went on exercise in the Norwegian Sea
President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill suspending Russia’s participation in a pivotal nuclear arms treaty.
Putin’s decree released on Wednesday formalizes Russia’s departure from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with the United States following Washington’s withdrawal from the pact.
The US gave notice of its intention to withdraw from the INF in February, setting the stage for it to terminate in six months unless Moscow returns to compliance.
Russia has denied any breaches, and accused the U.S. of violating the pact.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a decree on Wednesday which formalizes Russia’s departure from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with the United States
Moscow followed Washington’s example in February, also suspending its obligations under the treaty.
Putin has warned the U.S. against deploying new missiles in Europe, saying that Russia will retaliate by fielding new fast weapons that will take just as little time to reach their targets.
It comes as Russia announced it had sent two of its newest and most powerful ships to the Norwegian Sea for exercises.
The ‘Boiky’ and ‘Stoiky’ are reportedly being employed in training exercises for the search, detection and destruction of conditional enemy submarines region – the Russian Navy revealed on Wednesday.
Both ships tested their weapons systems as part of the deployment which is intended to ‘demonstrate Russian naval presence in various parts of the Atlantic Ocean.’
A Russian submarine, the Vladikavkaz, will also sail on the surface through the territory this week en route to St. Petersburg.
Two of Russia’s most modern ships are currently on exercise in the Norwegian Sea. Pictured: The Boiky corvette is one of the vessels
Tuesday’s exercised were staged immediately prior to Dynamic Mongoose, NATO’s annual anti-submarine exercise.
Six frigates, 10 aircraft and several submarines from Britain and the other NATO nations will take part in the week-long drills.
British frigate HMS Westminster has linked up with U.S. flagship guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely for the exercises.
‘Dynamic Mongoose’ will be held in the Norwegian Sea west of Andøya, northern Norway.
The Boiky and the Stoiky (pictured) were deployed to the region ahead of NATO exercises there