Vladimir Putin/kremlin.ru
MINSK, 27 October (BelTA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law terminating the agreement with the United States on the disposal of surplus weapons-grade plutonium, TASS reports.
In addition to withdrawing from the main agreement, Russia has also denounced all associated protocols. These supplementary documents previously governed funding mechanisms, civil liability for potential damages, and arrangements for disposing of the plutonium through irradiation in nuclear reactors.
The bill on denunciation was submitted to the State Duma by the Russian government in July of this year and was subsequently supported by both the lower and upper houses of parliament. Speaking in the State Duma, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov noted that maintaining Moscow's obligations under the plutonium agreement with Washington is unacceptable under current circumstances.
The explanatory note states that the agreement was suspended by the Russian president back in 2016. The reasons for this were the imposition of U.S. sanctions, the adoption of the U.S. Ukraine Supporting Act, NATO's eastward expansion, and the U.S. military buildup in Eastern European countries. Furthermore, the documents were suspended due to Washington's intention to alter the procedure for plutonium disposal without Moscow's consent.
The agreement was reached in 2000 and ratified in 2011. It stipulated that each party would dispose of 34 tonnes of excess weapons-grade plutonium.
In addition to withdrawing from the main agreement, Russia has also denounced all associated protocols. These supplementary documents previously governed funding mechanisms, civil liability for potential damages, and arrangements for disposing of the plutonium through irradiation in nuclear reactors.
The bill on denunciation was submitted to the State Duma by the Russian government in July of this year and was subsequently supported by both the lower and upper houses of parliament. Speaking in the State Duma, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov noted that maintaining Moscow's obligations under the plutonium agreement with Washington is unacceptable under current circumstances.
The explanatory note states that the agreement was suspended by the Russian president back in 2016. The reasons for this were the imposition of U.S. sanctions, the adoption of the U.S. Ukraine Supporting Act, NATO's eastward expansion, and the U.S. military buildup in Eastern European countries. Furthermore, the documents were suspended due to Washington's intention to alter the procedure for plutonium disposal without Moscow's consent.
The agreement was reached in 2000 and ratified in 2011. It stipulated that each party would dispose of 34 tonnes of excess weapons-grade plutonium.
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