Resumption of the treaty is the prerogative of the President of the Russian Federation.
A Federal Law on the Suspension by the Russian Federation of the Treaty between Russia and the United States on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms has been approved.
Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev made a report on this issue.
He said that the review of the law in the Federation Council stems directly from the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly and the President’s decision to suspend the START Treaty.
Konstantin Kosachev emphasised that the President’s decision fully corresponds to Article 37 of the Law on International Treaties of the Russian Federation.
He recalled that the upper chamber is reviewing this treaty for the third time. “In 2011, we resolved to ratify it. Ten years later, we resolved to extend it, consciously hoping the sides would fulfill it in accordance with the principles fixed therein. The Russian Federation has not changed its position. We continue to believe that this treaty meets global security interests, but the US has reversed its position,” he said. He says the Americans have stopped fulfilling their obligations and have started to depart from the spirit of the treaty on equal security for everyone. Last year, the United States bluntly announced its goal of defeating Russia by military means.
“In these conditions, the President of the Russian Federation noted that the consistent failure of the US to fulfil its commitments under the treaty is a fundamental change of circumstances,” said Konstantin Kosachev. He explained that the notion of a “fundamental change of circumstances” is sealed in the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. “This is a reason to stop or suspend international treaties, and this is what is happening in this case,” he said.
Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security Viktor Bondarev noted that the decision of the Federation Council would enhance the defence capability of our homeland.
In the opinion of First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Sergei Kislyak, far from developing mutual trust, Russia’s continued observance of this treaty could produce the opposite results.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov added that the United States is pursuing a policy of confrontation with Russia. In the diplomat’s opinion, the decision to suspend the treaty is the only possible option today.