Putin suspends nuclear pact with US, Biden pledges ‘unwavering’ support for Ukraine
US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been engaged in a war of words over differing views of the world and the Ukraine war.
Biden promised to defend democracy and Putin asserted that the West was a threat to Russia. On Tuesday, Putin suspended Russia’s last major nuclear arms control treaty with the US and Biden in Warsaw pledged untiring support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. The New START treaty limits the two countries’ strategic nuclear arsenals.
Speaking at the Royal Castle of Warsaw, Biden said, “When Russia invaded, it wasn’t just Ukraine being tested. The whole world faced a test for the ages.” This came a day after his surprise visit to war-hit Ukraine. Biden said the US and its Nato allies will stand up for sovereignty and they would “stand up for the right of people to live free from aggression”.
“And we would stand up for democracy. And we did,” he was quoted by Reuters as saying. Biden further said that “there should be no doubt: Our support for Ukraine will not waver, Nato will not be divided, and we will not tire.”
NUCLEAR TREATY
Earlier, in a speech to Russia’s military and political elite, Putin announced the suspension of Russia’s participation in the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) and accused the US of turning the war into a global conflict. Later, the foreign ministry said Moscow intended to continue abiding by the restrictions outlined in the treaty on the number of nuclear warheads it could have deployed.
Putin said the “elites of the West” should realise it is “impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield”. He added, “They intend to transform a local conflict into a phase of global confrontation. This is exactly how we understand it all and we will react accordingly, because in this case we are talking about the existence of our country.”
Meanwhile, Biden denied the claim that Western allies were seeking to control or destroy Russia. However, he accused Russia of crimes against humanity such as targeting civilians and rape.
REACTION TO PUTIN
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reacted to Putin’s move and called it “deeply unfortunate and irresponsible”. Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged Putin to reconsider the move, saying it made the world a more dangerous place.
Under the treaty that expires in 2026, the US and Russia may physically check the other’s nuclear arsenal. However, tensions over Ukraine had brought inspections to a halt.