Russian President Vladimir Putin has on Monday signed an order halting Moscow’s compliances with the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with the immediate effect and suspends the implementation of the pact between the Soviet Union and the United States of America.
According to ANI news reports, on a Kremlin website, the text of the order stated: “In accordance with Item 4 of Article 37 of the Federal Law No. 101-FZ dated July 15, 1995, on International Treaties of the Russian Federation, to suspend the implementation of the Treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles of December 8, 1987, until the United States of America rectifies its violations of the said Treaty or until it expires.”
The statement added: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is to send the signatory states of the Treaty referred to in Item 1 hereof a notice on the suspension of its implementation. This Executive Order enters into force on the day of its signing.”
Early in February, the United States President Donald Trump has suspended its obligations towards the INF pact after Russia was unable to comply with accord until 60 days threat. The treaty was aimed at curbing the nuclear arms race between the US and the USSR and has been signed by ex-US president Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet leader, in 1987.
Putin had on February 20, announced that Russia will retaliate with weapons if the US deploys any intermediate-range missiles in Europe.