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Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between Russia and the United States, START-3: What Putin said about nuclear weapons in his message of February 21, 2023

Date: March 29, 2024 Time: 17:26:23

Launch of a fixed-base intercontinental ballistic missile “Sarmat” from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. Photo: Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation / TASS

What Putin said about nuclear weapons in his message to the Federal Assembly on February 21, 2023

On February 21, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual address to the Federal Assembly. During his speech, the Russian leader touched on the issue of nuclear weapons.

“Some figures in Washington, we know for sure, are already thinking about the possibility of natural tests of their nuclear weapons, even taking into account the fact that the United States is developing new types of nuclear weapons,” the head of state said. .

Putin added that the Russian Defense Ministry and Rosatom should be ready to test nuclear weapons if the United States does so first. In addition, the president said that Russia is unilaterally suspending participation in the Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty.

What is the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between Russia and the United States – START-3

Vladimir Putin announced the suspension of Russia’s participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. This agreement is widely known by the initials START, whose third version (START-3) was signed on April 8, 2010 in Prague (Czech Republic) between Russia and the United States. It succeeded the 1991 START Treaty (START) and, upon its entry into force, replaced the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reduction Treaty (STROT).

The START-3 Treaty provided for a real and, most importantly, controlled reduction of strategic offensive weapons by February 2018. The parties were to have 1,550 warheads each on ICBMs, as well as missiles from submarines and heavy bombers. .

Vladimir Putin announced the suspension of Russia’s participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

Photo: Vladimir VELENGURIN

The experts pointed out that there was an imbalance in the very text of the document. For example, the treaty stated that each heavy bomber is a nuclear payload, although in reality one side can carry 12 to 24 missiles or bombs. The US has more heavy bombers than Russia and so the actual load ratio was 2,100 for Russia and around 2,400 for the US. Unlike START-1, however, in START- 3 there were no restrictions on the combat duty areas of mobile land-based missile systems; in Russia these are Topol, Topol-M, Yars.

By February 5, 2018 (historic date under the treaty), Russia had fully complied with its obligations to reduce strategic offensive arms. The Americans resorted to all sorts of tricks. For example, 56 Trident-II SLBM launchers and 41 B-52H heavy bombers were unilaterally delisted. Because? The United States said it converted them. In addition, they called several mines “training” and also did not include them in the compensation. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, taking into account these funds, the total number of TB and ICBM launchers and SLBMs allowed by the United States is 101 units above the total number of TB and ICBM launchers and SLBMs permitted by the Treaty. .

After 2018, Russia repeatedly raised the issue of extending START-3, but the White House insisted that China should also be included in the deal. US NATO allies Britain and France also have nuclear weapons aimed at Russia and at the same time are not included in START-3, this is a question the Americans have repeatedly left out of the question. brackets. However, last January it was possible to agree on the expansion of START-3 in the form in which it exists.

However, now that the United States declares its intention to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, it makes no sense for Russia to continue to comply with START-3 by admitting US inspectors to our strategic facilities. How useless it is to limit oneself in the number of strategic weapons in conditions in which, in addition to the United States, we are threatened by other countries of the North Atlantic Alliance.

While the entire civilized world that calls itself attacks us, Russia has simply untied its hands.

“The suspension of participation in the treaty makes it possible to stop any exchange of data on weapons systems and military equipment, this is the first thing,” a military expert, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences, Doctor of Military Sciences Konstantin Sivkov told Komsomolskaya Pravda. – The second is that we can start producing weapons systems above the standards stipulated in the agreement. And we have something to produce. Take, for example, the same strategic missile systems “Sarmat”, now nothing limits us in the volume of their production. And one more thing: if the United States decides to test nuclear weapons, so will we, the president has made it clear.

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* This website provides news content gathered from various internet sources. It is crucial to understand that we are not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented Read More

Puck Henry
Puck Henry
Puck Henry is an editor for ePrimefeed covering all types of news.
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