Iran Press/ Europe: US President Joe Biden has arrived in Poland after an unannounced visit to Ukraine, and rallied NATO allies, stressing "unwavering" support for the ex-Soviet Republic in its current war with Russia.
Amid the highest tension between Russia and the West since the Cold War over three decades ago, Biden addressed thousands in downtown Warsaw on Tuesday.
Hours earlier, Putin delivered lengthy remarks laden with criticism of Western powers, blaming them for the war in Ukraine. Biden said the West was never plotting to attack Russia and the invasion was Putin's choice.
Putin also backed away from the NEW START Arms Control Treaty - a 2010 agreement that limits the number of Russian and US deployed strategic nuclear warheads - and warned that Moscow could resume nuclear tests.
Russia’s State Duma endorses Putin’s move to suspend nuclear pact with US
Russia’s State Duma, the lower house of the country's parliament, on Wednesday unanimously passed a law endorsing President Vladimir Putin's move to suspend Moscow's participation in a key nuclear pact with the US.
The document announcing Russia's exit from the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) was presented by Putin to the State Duma.
The effect of the New START Treaty is currently suspended and the decision to restore it rests with the president of Russia. The law will be effective from the time of its official publication.
The treaty was signed by Russia and the United States in Prague on April 8, 2010. It envisages the reduction of the nuclear arsenals of two countries. In his speech to the Federal Assembly on Tuesday, Putin announced the decision to suspend Russia's participation in the treaty.
The president said Russia will not withdraw from the treaty but must know how the nuclear arsenals of other NATO countries, England and France, are calculated under the treaty before the treaty is renewed.
The Russian foreign ministry in a statement earlier said Moscow’s decision was reversible and called on Washington "to show the political will and make good-faith efforts to ensure the resumption of the treaty’s full-fledged operation."
Meanwhile, a senior Russian defense official said on Wednesday Moscow would stick to agreed limits on nuclear missiles and continue to inform the United States of changes in its deployment despite the suspension of the latest arms control treaty with Washington.
Both houses of the Russian parliament quickly voted to suspend Moscow's participation in New Start.
The Russian president has already said no one should have dangerous illusions that global strategic parity can be destroyed. Putin has accused the West of being directly involved in attempts to strike its strategic air bases.
The US had previously accused Russia of not being in compliance with New START.
224
Read More:
NATO fears Russia’s launch of nuclear super-torpedo named Poseidon
Russia: US obliged to present account of attack on Nord Stream
US officials quash societal split using authoritarian methods: Lavrov
US announces new sanctions against Russia
