Russia continues to disregard nuclear arms control: US

WASHINGTON

The White House national security adviser criticized Russia on Tuesday for its formal withdrawal from a major treaty limiting the deployment of military weapons in Europe.

"While Russia’s withdrawal from the CFE Treaty further demonstrates Moscow’s continued disregard for arms control, the United States, our NATO Allies, and our responsible partners remain committed to effective conventional arms control as a critical element of Euro-Atlantic security," Jake Sullivan said in a statement.

His remarks came after Moscow withdrew from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty) and accused NATO and its "clients" of demonstrating an "inability to negotiate," making any agreements with them "impossible."

"The combination of Russia’s withdrawal from the CFE Treaty and its continuing full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine – another CFE State Party – has fundamentally altered circumstances that were essential to the CFE States Parties’ consent to be bound by the treaty, and radically transformed the obligations under the treaty.

"In light of this fundamental change of circumstances, the United States will suspend the operation of all CFE Treaty obligations between itself and every other State Party, effective December 7, consistent with our rights under international law," said Sullivan.

He said the decision was followed by close consultation and coordination with NATO allies.

"As reflected in the statement issued at NATO Headquarters today, our Allies unanimously share our view that a situation where the United States and our NATO Allies continue to be militarily constrained by the CFE Treaty, while Russia – whose armed forces are the largest in Europe, and who continues to actively wage a war of aggression against Ukraine using the very forces the treaty aims to constrain – is not, would be unacceptable," he said.

The suspension of CFE obligations will strengthen NATO's deterrence and defense capacity by removing restrictions that affect planning, deployments and exercises, said Sullivan.

"We will continue to pursue measures that aim to bolster stability and security in Europe by reducing risk, preventing misperceptions, avoiding conflicts, and building trust," he added.

The CFE was a landmark post-Cold War arms control deal signed Nov. 19, 1990, in Paris between NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

It imposed limits on five key categories of conventional military equipment in Europe -- tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, helicopters and combat aircraft -- and mandated the destruction of excess weaponry.

In 1999, an updated CFE treaty was drafted and approved in Istanbul, Türkiye, taking into account new realities such as the Warsaw Pact's dissolution and NATO expansion.

Because NATO countries did not ratify the agreement, Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended Russia's participation in the treaty in 2007.

In May, Putin signed a decree denouncing the CFE, almost two weeks after Russian lawmakers approved Moscow's withdrawal from the treaty.