EPA
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NOS News•today, 00:41
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Russia will not allow the US to carry out nuclear weapons inspections under the New Start Treaty for the time being. The Kremlin says US sanctions are making Russian inspectors unable to work and is therefore suspending cooperation for the time being.
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The New Start Treaty is the only nuclear weapons agreement left between the two countries. It concerns agreements that President Obama made in 2010 with his Russian colleague Medvedev about the nuclear arsenals of their countries. For example, both countries are not allowed to possess more than 1500 operational warheads.
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Presidents Putin and Biden met last year two days before the treaty was due to expire agree an extension. The new treaty is valid until 2026.
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‘Temporary’
Moscow says it still finds the treaty important, but states that US sanctions because of the war in Ukraine give the US a unilateral advantage. Russian inspectors find it difficult to enter the US to do their work due to the lack of direct flights and visa requirements, a spokesperson explains.
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The spokesperson emphasizes that this is a temporary suspension of the inspections. The Russian Foreign Ministry calls it a “critical tool for preserving international security and stability”.
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The White House has not yet commented on the Russian decision. When extending the treaty, Foreign Minister Blinken said the treaty would help “limit the risk of war and prevent an arms race”.
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