Russia has confirmed it will stop sharing nuclear weapons-related information with the US

This content was published on March 29, 2023 – 16:25
March 29, 2023 – 4:25 pm
minutes

(Keystone SDA)

Russia has confirmed it will no longer share detailed information about its nuclear weapons with the US. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin had previously put the last major arms reduction deal between the two superpowers on hold.

“There will be no announcements,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Moscow state media on Wednesday. All forms are suspended – data exchange, all inspection activities and other agreements under the “Fresh Start” agreement suspended by Russia. There is no information about missile tests either.

A measure of the “fresh start” agreement is the semi-annual exchange of information such as the number of warships and bombers at certain bases. John Kirby, director of communications for the National Security Council, said on Tuesday that the United States would have stopped the information exchange because Moscow had not participated in it. He clarified that the data will be shared again only when Russia is ready to do so.

The New Start disarmament treaty is the only remaining major arms control treaty between the United States and Russia. The agreement also limits the two countries’ nuclear arsenals to 800 delivery systems and 1,550 operational warships each. Putin has said his move is not a departure from the deal and that Russia wants to continue to adhere to agreed limits on nuclear weapons for the time being.