Answer to Putin from America and NATO

The United States and NATO reacted to the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As expected, Russia’s suspension of the strategic disarmament agreement caused an immediate outcry in the Western world, followed by statements by NATO and the US.

As the first year of Ukrainian occupation drew to a close, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, addressing the nation, set his sights on Western countries and NATO. The most striking part of Putin’s speech, which repeated accusations that Moscow had been repeating for a year in the same tone, was the announcement that they had suspended the bilateral disarmament agreement with the United States.

The Strategic Arms Reduction Agreement (START), signed between Russia and the United States in 2010 and renewed for five years in 2021, limited the number of long-range nuclear warheads of the two countries to 1,550 units. This was a lower level of armament than in the previous START agreement between the two countries.

Near the end of his speech, which lasted more than an hour, Putin said: “Today I must announce that Russia has suspended the agreement on the reduction of strategic offensive arms,” ​​and added that if the United States conducts nuclear tests, Russia should also conduct tests. its nuclear weapons.

NATO’s reaction to Putin’s words, which hit the world’s headlines, came at the speed of a jet plane. Declaring that no one attacked Russia, on the contrary, the Russian army attacked, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Putin continued to escalate the war.

“Putin made it clear today that he is preparing for new wars,” Stoltenberg said, noting that he regretted Moscow’s decision to suspend the strategic disarmament agreement and demanded that the Russian leader reconsider this decision.

Stoltenberg, who held a joint press conference with European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Relations and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, said: “It was Putin who started this imperialist war of conquest,” adding:

“Putin made it clear today that he is preparing for new wars. Putin must not win. This is dangerous for our own security and for the whole world. I regret Russia’s decision to suspend New START.”

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called Putin’s decision extremely unfortunate and irresponsible. Speaking to reporters in Athens, the Greek capital, Blinken stressed that the United States would be keeping a close eye on what Russia was actually doing. Blinken also added that they will determine the appropriate position to ensure the security of the US and its allies.