Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a statement on September 22, warning the West of a military response to perceived threats.
Putin’s Statement on Nuclear Weapons
Putin claimed that Western countries have undermined the foundation of constructive relations and practical cooperation between nations with nuclear weapons.
He stated that the basis of dialogue has been disrupted and that the system of Soviet-American and Russian-American agreements on missile and nuclear arms control has been dismantled.
Russian Response to Threats
Putin warned that Russia is prepared to respond to existing and emerging threats with real military-technical means, not just words.
He cited Russia’s decision to lift a unilateral moratorium on deploying medium- and shorter-range land-based missiles, citing the need to counter similar American deployments in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
New START Treaty
Putin noted that the New START treaty, signed with the US in 2010, expires on February 5, 2026, and that its implementation was suspended in 2023 due to “extremely hostile policies” from the Biden administration.
He emphasized that Russia is willing to continue to adhere to central quantitative restrictions for another year after the treaty’s expiration and urged the US to take similar actions.
