(BrightPress.org) – Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a suspension of Russian participation in the START nuclear non-proliferation treaty during his annual address on Tuesday, February 20th. He noted during his speech that the suspension was temporary, due to the escalating conflict in Ukraine, which he called an existential threat to the Russian Federation. He also explained that NATO member states were requesting privileges to inspect Russian nuclear facilities under the treaty, which was signed and agreed to at a time when the U.S. and Russia were not in the midst of an international conflict.
He also explained that Moscow’s requests to formally inspect U.S. nuclear facilities are routinely denied.
Putin characterized Western diplomatic efforts in Ukraine as “playing with a stacked deck.” He reiterated that the 2014-15 Minsk agreements were regularly violated by Ukrainian forces who continued to launch military assaults against Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (newly formed independent states that seceded from Ukraine, also called the Donbas).
“[Western forces] are almost proud of and revel in their treacherousness,” he said. As former colonial powers, Putin said that Western nations are accustomed to getting their way. He also referred to “despicable methods of deceit” deployed to justify Western behavior in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, and Syria.
Ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkle admitted as much in December 2022 when she said the Minsk agreements were “an attempt to give Ukraine time” to build their armed forces.
The U.S. Secretary of State called the move “really unfortunate and very irresponsible,” a bit of pathological projection on his part, perhaps? As the U.S. recently authorized sending M1 Abrams tanks and the U.K. plans to send long-range missiles – along with additional weapons, money, and logistical aid coming from other European nations – do Western authorities genuinely feel Russia is the irresponsible party?
Blinken also warned China it would be a “serious problem” if they provided weapons and military equipment to Russia, though he sees no problem with the ongoing Western support for the Ukrainian statelet.
“It is they who have started the war,” Putin claimed, “and we are using force to end it.”
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