Why Putin Is Suspending the Last U.S.-Russia Nuclear-Arms Treaty Left | WSJ
Why Putin Is Suspending the Last U.S.-Russia Nuclear-Arms Treaty Left | WSJ
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would suspend its participation in the last remaining major nuclear-arms-control treaty between the U.S. and Russia. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Putin’s decision is “really unfortunate and very irresponsible.”
WSJ’s Ann M. Simmons explains the New START treaty and Putin’s decision to suspend the agreement.
Illustration: Marina Costa/Alexander Zemlianichenko/Associated Press
0:00 Putin says Moscow will suspend participation in a nuclear-arms treaty
0:30 What is the New START Treaty?
1:22 Why has Russia suspended the treaty?
2:30 What does this mean for global nuclear weapons control?
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Content
0.51 -> - [Narrator] Russian
President Vladimir Putin said
2.85 -> that Moscow would
suspend its participation
5.34 -> in the last remaining major
nuclear arms control treaty
8.64 -> between the US and Russia,
the New START treaty.
12.552 -> (Vladimir speaking in Russian)
16.943 -> - [Reporter] Mr. President, any reaction
17.984 -> to Putin saying he's
pulling out of New START?
21.81 -> - Big mistake.
22.77 -> - [Narrator] Here's what
the New START treaty is
25.2 -> and what Russia's suspension means
27.24 -> for global nuclear arms control.
30.24 -> The New START, meaning New
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
34.47 -> was signed in Prague in 2010
37.11 -> by former President Barack Obama
39.39 -> and former Russian
President, Dmitry Medvedev.
43.02 -> It was an extension to START
I, which was signed in 1991.
47.64 -> This was a way to try to reset relations
50.16 -> between Russia and the
US after the Cold War.
53.49 -> The agreement was important
54.99 -> because these two countries
hold approximately 90%
58.443 -> of the world's nuclear weapons,
so the pact was created
62.4 -> to make sure this arsenal was controlled.
66.51 -> The treaty limits the number
67.95 -> of strategic nuclear
warheads that can be deployed
71.13 -> by either Russia or the US
73.38 -> to 1,550 and allows both sides
77.67 -> to inspect each other's
nuclear facilities.
81.93 -> Vladimir Putin said it was
time to suspend this deal
85.29 -> because Russia feels the US
has not abided by the agreement
89.22 -> by not allowing Russian inspectors
91.38 -> on US nuclear sites.
93.63 -> The US said it is Russia
95.67 -> that is blocking onsite inspections.
99.03 -> NATO Secretary General
urged Vladimir Putin
102.33 -> to reconsider the suspension.
104.43 -> - We have to remember that this is one
106.23 -> of the last major arms
control agreements we have.
109.89 -> - [Narrator] The Foreign
Ministry has said,
111.81 -> following Mr. Putin's announcement
114.03 -> that Russia would continue
115.77 -> to observe the limits on the number
117.78 -> of nuclear warheads it can
deploy under the treaty.
121.32 -> And he also said
122.31 -> that Russia would continue to
notify the US when it plans
125.61 -> to test launch intercontinental
ballistic missiles
128.97 -> and submarine launch ballistic missiles.
132.096 -> (Vladimir speaking in Russian)
137.1 -> - We'll be watching carefully
138.93 -> to see what Russia actually does.
140.82 -> We'll, of course, make
sure that in any of that,
143.1 -> we are postured appropriately
for the security
146.1 -> of our own country,
and that of our allies.
148.98 -> - [Narrator] This suspension means
150.45 -> that the US will lose
access to inspect some
153.06 -> of Russia's nuclear facilities.
155.13 -> And it's worrisome because
what Russia is planning,
157.71 -> whatever that is, it could
become more shrouded in secrecy.
161.64 -> But moreover, it calls into question
164.1 -> whether or not this agreement
165.72 -> to control nuclear weapons
can actually last now.
169.442 -> (nationalistic music)
171.27 -> China, for example, has indicated
173.19 -> that it wants to build
a large nuclear arsenal.
175.98 -> North Korea, as we know, has been testing
178.2 -> intercontinental ballistic
missiles and there's also concern
181.77 -> among Western officials that
Iran might actually be close
185.31 -> to making bomb grade nuclear fuel.
187.985 -> (nationalistic music)
189.72 -> The Journal spoke to the director
191.4 -> of the Pro-Kremlin Institute
for Political Studies who said
194.94 -> that if Washington doesn't
listen to Moscow now,
197.79 -> Putin may officially
withdraw from the treaty.
200.7 -> And if that happens, we
could expect a change
203.55 -> that would reduce the
US's nuclear security.
206.969 -> (dramatic music)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISZYMyWA9L0