EU calls on Russia to return to nuclear agreement

The European Union has said that Russia must fulfill its obligations under the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START) and allow the US to conduct inspections of its nuclear arsenals under the treaty.

This is reported, citing a statement by the EU Foreign Affairs Service.

The treaty improves strategic stability and mutual trust between the two largest nuclear powers, the U.S. and Russia, Brussels said.

The statement noted that suspension of the Treaty or its expiration without a proper follow-on agreement “would undermine the European security architecture and substantially set back arms control efforts, which is not in the interest of any of the States parties to New START, neither of any other country”.

The EU sees the agreement as "a crucial contribution to international and European security," and also calls on Moscow to fulfill its obligations under the treaty by facilitating inspections on Russian territory.

As a reminder, according to Vladimir Putin's statement in his address to the Federal Assembly on February 21, Russia has decided to suspend participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

Author – Anastasiya Glotova, 22/02/2022