Putin Suspends START Treaty, Places Strategic Weapons 'on Combat Duty,' May Resume Nuclear Tests

Russia is suspending its participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), and has put new strategic ground-based nuclear weapons on combat duty.

In addition, Russia may resume nuclear weapons testing at its Novaya Zemlya nuclear test site. Putin said that the Defense Ministry and the Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation should "get ready to carry out nuclear tests if necessary." However, Putin added that Russia "won’t be the first to conduct them."

“I have to announce today that Russia is suspending its participation in the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Arms," Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, addressing the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, adding that it is not withdrawing from the treaty.

"There is no connection between the issue of START and the conflict in Ukraine, other hostile actions of the West against our country," he said.

Russia said that NATO should become a member of the New START Treaty.

Meanwhile, Putin signed a decree on putting new ground-based strategic complexes on combat duty last week. “Are they going to stick their nose in there too?” Putin said while speaking about the impossibility of visits by NATO inspections to Russian nuclear facilities. 

According to him, NATO's statements on this topic are steps towards the alliance's participation in the Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty.

"We agree with this, please, moreover, we believe that such a formulation of the issue is long overdue," Putin said.

The Novaya Zemlya nuclear test site is reportedly ready for nuclear tests.

Scientific Director of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics Vyacheslav Solovyov told TASS on February 8 that nuclear tests could be resumed at the Novaya Zemlya nuclear test site if such a need arose and a political decision was made. "A special program is in effect to maintain the testing site’s readiness," he explained.

The Novaya Zemlya nuclear test site is maintained by the Russian Defense Ministry’s 12th Main Department. A total of 130 tests were carried out there between September 21, 1955, and October 24, 1990, including 88 atmospheric, three underwater and 39 underground tests.