Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed decree to suspend a post-Cold War deal with the US on disposal of plutonium from decommissioned nuclear warheads.
The decision was explained by “the hostile actions of the US” against Russia and may be reversed, if such actions are stopped.
Rocky Flat site in USA.
The decree cites the radical change in the environment, a threat to strategic stability posed by the hostile actions of the US against Russia, and the inability of the US to deliver on the obligation to dispose of excessive weapons plutonium under international treaties, as well as the need to take swift action to defend Russian security as justification for suspending the deal.
Russia suspended the plutonium reprocessing deal, it stressed that the Russian fissile material, which was subject to it, would not be used for any military purpose, be it production of new weapons or research.
Although the suspension decree has come into force, but it needs to be approved by the Russian parliament, which may overrule the president’s decision. However, it is highly unlikely.
