Russia To Withdraw From The Treaty On Conventional Armed Forces In Europe

 

RT: Russia to withdraw from European arms treaty  

President Putin has appointed an official to supervise the country's exit from the suspended 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe 

Russia has indicated its intention to formally withdraw from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), a military transparency agreement that is currently suspended. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has been selected by President Vladimir Putin to supervise the procedure in the Russian parliament. 

The appointment was revealed on Wednesday as part of regular Kremlin announcements. Ryabkov will represent the government in both chambers of parliament regarding the proposed withdrawal, the document said.  

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Russia To Withdraw From The Treaty On Conventional Armed Forces In Europe  

Putin submits bill on denunciation of CFE treaty to State Duma -- TASS 

Russia Denounces Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe -- Sputnik  

Russia moves to 'denounce' European armed forces treaty - decree -- Reuters  

Russia moves to formally denounce Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe -- Meduza  

Russia to withdraw from Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe -- New Voice Of Ukraine

Russian President Putin Proposes Extension Of New START Treaty For One Year Without Conditions

Russia's President Vladimir Putin takes part in a video conference call with members of the Security Council in Moscow, Russia October 16, 2020. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS

Reuter: Putin proposes Russia, U.S. extend New START arms control treaty for one year

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Friday that Russia and the United States extend their New START arms control treaty that expires in February for at least a year without imposing any conditions. 

The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) accord, signed in 2010, limits the numbers of strategic nuclear warheads, missiles and bombers that Russia and the United States can deploy. 

A failure to extend the pact would remove all constraints on U.S. and Russian deployments of strategic nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, fueling a post-Cold War arms race and tensions between Moscow and Washington. Putin, speaking at a meeting by video link with Russia’s Security Council that was broadcast on state television, said the treaty had worked effectively until now and it would be “extremely sad” if it were to stop working. 

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WNU Editor: Wow! Quite a change in policy from two days ago when the Russian foreign office was saying this .... Russia sees no prospect of prolonging New START treaty with US, but is not closing door on negotiations – Foreign Minister Lavrov (RT), and the US media was saying this .... Trump Thought He Had a Nuclear Deal With Putin. Not So Fast, Russia Said. (New York Times). More here .... Russia Says No To U.S. Proposal On Extending The New START Treaty "For Some Period Of Time" In Exchange For Russia Freezing Its Nuclear Arsenal (October 14, 2020). So what changed the Kremlin's mind? If I was to guess, they are giving President Trump a gift. He can now claim success in an arms agreement with Russia. And if President Trump is defeated, no big deal. Democrat Presidential candidate Biden has already stated he is open to extend START by 5 years which is what the Kremlin wants. 

 More News On Russian President Putin Proposes Extension Of New START Treaty For One Year Without Conditions 

Putin proposes to extend New START without preconditions for one year minimum -- TASS 

Putin: Russia Has New Weapons US Doesn’t Have, Ready to Discuss Them as Part of New START Talks -- Sputnik 

Putin Proposes One-Year Extension of New START Treaty -- Moscow Times/AFP 

Putin Proposes Extension Of New START Treaty For One Year Without Conditions -- RFE 

Putin proposes yearlong extension of nuclear pact with U.S. -- Politico

A Pivotal Year For U.S. - Russia Arms Control Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany July 7, 2017 © Reuters /Sputnik/ Kremlin /Mikhail Klimentyev

Rebecca Kheel, The Hill: Trump faces pivotal year with Russia on arms control

The coming year is poised to be pivotal for U.S.-Russia arms control talks.

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last major treaty constraining the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, is set to expire in early 2021.

That means President Trump has to get serious in 2020 about engaging in arms control talks with Russia, supporters of renewing the treaty say.

Trump has said he wants a broader deal that also folds in China, a much heavier feat than just extending the existing treaty. But in 2020, Trump will also be focused on his reelection campaign. And his always controversial relationship with Russia is a wild card.

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WNU Editor: Russian President Lavrov comments on arms control with the U.S., and President Trump personally (see below):

Russia's Lavrov says Trump told Putin U.S. will continue looking for arms treaty solutions: Ifax -- Reuters
Russia Ready to Show Sarmat Missile System to US, Include it in New START Treaty - Lavrov -- Sputnik
US has ‘no more excuses’ to avoid New START Treaty discussion as Russia is ready to renew it immediately – Russia’s FM Lavrov -- RT
Moscow Won’t Sacrifice Relations With China ‘Just to Make Americans Happy’ – Lavrov -- Sputnik
Russia's Lavrov Reveals What He Likes the Most About Trump -- Sputnik
‘He says what he thinks directly’: Russia’s Lavrov reveals peculiarities of foreign policy talks with Trump -- RT

Russian Media: President Trump Says China Wants To Join Into A Nuclear Pact With US, Russia

© Reuters / Carlos Barria

RT: Trump says China wants to join nuclear pact with US, Russia

China is interested in joining a nuclear “pact” with US and Russia to reduce the number of nuclear warheads, US President Donald Trump said.

“We’re talking about a nuclear agreement, where we make less and they make less, and maybe even get rid of the tremendous firepower we have right now,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday, discussing his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump said he and Putin discussed a possibility of making it a “three-way deal” with China, adding that Beijing “would very much like to be part of that deal.” He had brought up the topic in the ongoing trade talks with the Chinese, and they were “more excited about it than [about] trade.”

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Update: Trump & Putin talked on phone about possibility of a new nuclear agreement with US, Russia & China (RT)

WNU Editor: The main stream media is not reporting this story so far. I am also skeptical that China is "eager" to join into a nuclear pact with the U.S. and Russia. They have stated repeatedly over the years that they are not interested into getting into a nuclear arms agreement with the U.S. and Russia. But if there is a change in policy in Beijing and this report is true, then this is big news.

Russia Warns Of A New Nuclear Arms Race (Update)

Daily Mail: Russia warns of a new nuclear arms race: Kremlin says it will 'respond in kind' if US pulls out of atomic weapons treaty as John Bolton arrives ahead of talks with Putin

* Russia threatens to pull out of treaty banning short and medium range nukes
* Comes after Trump said US will quit the pact and accused Russia of violating it
* Threat raises prospect of first nuclear arms race since the end of the Cold War
* Warning came as John Bolton arrived in Moscow for talks with Russian officials

Russia says it will be forced to 'respond in kind' if America pulls out of a key nuclear weapons treaty and begins developing new missiles.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke out after Donald Trump threatened to quit the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty on Saturday, accusing Russia of violating it.

If the US and Russia make good on their threats, it would mark the first nuclear arms race between world superpowers since the end of the Cold War.

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More News On Russia's Reaction To The U.S. Abandoning The INF Treaty

US scrapping INF would make world more dangerous, force Russia to ‘restore balance’ – Kremlin -- RT
Russia warns of response to ‘restore balance’ if US withdraws from missile treaty -- The Hill
Kremlin vows to respond to US pullout from INF by measures to restore military balance -- TASS
Lavrov: Possible US Exit From INF Treaty to Be Met With Russian 'Counteraction' -- Sputnik
Russia condemns U.S. plan to withdraw from INF treaty -- UPI
Russia fires back after Trump threatens to ditch nuclear arms treaty -- CNN
Kremlin: Russia will 'restore balance' with new missiles if U.S. pulls out of treaty -- Politico
Russia warns of arms race if US quits weapons treaty -- Al Jazeera
Russia pledges to act to 'restore' military balance if U.S. quits nuclear arms pact -- Reuters
What is the INF nuclear treaty? -- Nicole Goebel, DW

16 Euopean Countries Want An Arms Control Deal With Russia

A Russian Yars RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile system drives during the Victory Day parade, marking the 71st anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, at Red Square in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2016. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

Reuters: Germany, 15 other countries press for arms control deal with Russia

Fifteen European countries have joined Germany in its push for a new arms control agreement with Moscow, saying more dialogue is needed to prevent an arms race in Europe after Russia's actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, a German newspaper said.

"Europe's security is in danger," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told Die Welt newspaper in an interview published on Friday. "As difficult as ties to Russia may currently be, we need more dialogue, not less."

Steinmeier, a Social Democrat who has been nominated to become German president next year, first called for a new arms control deal with Russia in August to avoid an escalation of tensions in Europe.

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Update #1: Europe States Call to Renew Conventional Arms Control as Existing Treaties Fail -- Sputnik
Update #2: War In Europe? Germany, 15 Other Countries To Push For New Arms Control Deal With Russia -- International Business Times

WNU Editor: The problem in Europe is not the absence of an arms control agreement .... the problem is political .... specifically on what has happened (and is happening) in Ukraine. Solve the crisis in Ukraine will in turn deflate significantly the political tensions throughout eastern Europe .... unfortunately there is no political will in Europe (on all sides) to do just that right now.

Russian Foreign Ministry: No Arms Control Talks With The U.S.

John Kerry (right) expressed his concerns to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. (Reuters: Brendan Smialowski)

Sputnik: Russia-US Cooperation in Arms Control Impossible Over Sanctions

United States and Russia are impossible to cooperate in the arms control sector due to sanctions imposed against Russia’s defense enterprises.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – It is impossible for the United States and Russia to cooperate in the sector of arms control due to sanctions imposed against Russia’s defense enterprises, Russian Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Director of the Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control Vladimir Leontyev told Sputnik.

“They [Washington] seemingly say that they are ready [to discuss arms control]. But how can defense issues be discussed without servicemen, amid sanctions imposed against the majority of our defense enterprises… We can speak to our US vis-a-vis, but neither they nor we are technical experts,” Leontyev said.

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WNU Editor: Sanctions. New Cold War. Arms buildup. Ukraine. Syria. Everyone is focused on the many growing crisis spots in the world .... and arms control discussions are no longer on anyone's list right now. This is a dramatic change from last month. Last month I was in Moscow and I had attended a few foreign/economic policy forums where the possibility of arms control (and maybe a Detente 2.0) was discussed. Today .... from what I am reading in Russia .... even discussing the possibility of bringing up arms talks in the future .... this is now all dead.

Russian Foreign Ministry: Interested In Conventional Arms Control, But Will Not Be The First To Initiate Discussions

© Donat Sorokin/TASS

TASS: Moscow says possibilities for creating new arms control regime in Europe are in place

The Russian Foreign Ministry is studying those "possibilities" very thoroughly

MOSCOW, September 5. /TASS/. Possibilities to establish a new conventional arms control regime in Europe do exist but Russia is not going to initiate any dialogue on that matter, neither does it plan to put forth any demands concerning that, the Russian foreign ministry said on Monday, commenting on an article by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on this subject.

"We paid attention to the article by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier ‘Reviving Arms Control in Europe,’" the ministry said.

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WNU Editor: This follows an earlier report from the Russian Foreign Ministry when they made public that they would not avoid talks on conventional arms control .... Russia does not evade discussing arms control in Europe — diplomat (TASS). What's my take .... these talks can only move forward once the situation in Ukraine has been solved.

U.S. And Russian Officials Meet To Discuss Saving The 1987 Nuclear Arms Control Treaty

Russia, U.S. To Hold Talks On 1987 Arms Accord -- Reuters

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian and U.S. officials will meet in Moscow on Thursday to discuss a 1987 arms control treaty whose future could be in doubt.

Washington and Moscow have questioned each other's commitment to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty and their relationship has deteriorated over the Ukraine crisis, with tensions heightened following a NATO summit last week.

"We believe that this is an important agreement and that it should be properly executed," Interfax new agency quoted Mikhail Ulyanov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's non-proliferation and arms control department, as saying of the treaty.

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More News On U.S. And Russian Officials Meeingt To Discuss Saving The 1987 Arms Control Treaty

U.S. Delegation Is to Visit Moscow to Review Claims of a Missile Violation -- NYT
US, Russia to Discuss Alleged Nuclear Treaty Violations -- VOA
Russia, US to discuss reciprocal claims on Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty -- ITAR-TASS
An Obsolete Nuclear Treaty Even Before Russia Cheated -- John Bolton And John Yoo, WSJ
It's Time to Stop Putin's Nuclear Arms Buildup -- James M. Inhofe, Foreign Policy

My Comment: How times have changed. Three decades ago this news story would be on all the headlines and be discussed and commented continuously. Today .... it is buried in the other news (NFL scandal, Islamic State, etc.).

U.S. Accuses Russia Of Violating The 1987 Arms Control Treaty

The 1987 treaty, signed by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, was seen as a major factor in bringing an end to the Cold War (stock picture)

U.S. Says Russia Tested Missile, Despite Treaty -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — The United States informed its NATO allies this month that Russia had tested a new ground-launched cruise missile, raising concerns about Moscow’s compliance with a landmark arms control accord.

American officials believe Russia began conducting flight tests of the missile as early as 2008. Such tests are prohibited by the treaty banning medium-range missiles that was signed in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the Soviet leader at the time, and that has long been viewed as one of the bedrock accords that brought an end to the Cold War.

Beginning in May, Rose Gottemoeller, the State Department’s senior arms control official, has repeatedly raised the missile tests with Russian officials, who have responded that they investigated the matter and consider the case to be closed. But Obama administration officials are not yet ready to formally declare the tests of the missile, which has not been deployed, to be a violation of the 1987 treaty.

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More News On U.S. Accusations That Russia Has Violated The 1987 Arms Control Treaty

Russia has tested new ground-launched cruise missile, despite landmark arms control treaty, U.S tells Nato -- Daily Mail
US Alleges Russian Missile Treaty Violation – Report -- RIA Novosti
US says Russia conducted missile test banned by 1987 treaty -- FOX News
Report: US officials say Russia violated treaty -- The Hill
US briefs Nato on Russian 'nuclear treaty breach' -- BBC
Obama mum as Russia violates arms treaty forged by Reagan -- Washington Times

Why Is Iran Given A Key Seat At Negotiations For A Global Arms Treaty

When The UN Wants To Negotiate A Global Arms Control Deal, It Turns To ... Iran -- FOX News

UNITED NATIONS – A little more than a week after accusing Iran of supplying arms for Syria's bloody crackdown on democracy-minded rebels, the UN has given Tehran a key seat at negotiations for a global arms treaty.

The stunning appointment by member states attending the UN Conference of the Arms Trade Treaty in New York came last week, and is just the latest example of the world body appointing rogue and repressive regimes to leadership roles. The 15-nation committee to which Iran was appointed hopes to guide what could eventually become the first legally binding global treaty aimed at regulating the international trade of conventional arms.

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My Comment: UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer says it best ....

.... “Right after a UN Security Council report found Iran guilty of illegally transferring guns and bombs to Syria, which is now murdering thousands of its own people, it defies logic, morality and common sense for the UN to elect this same regime to a global post in the regulation of arms transfers”.

Indeed.

Arms Control: It’s Back and Hot!

From DoD Buzz:

The sleeper issue of 2010, the one issue that almost no one who follows defense these days knows much about, is arms control. And it looks likely, says defense analysts and congressional aides, to be the single hottest defense topic on Capitol Hill this year.

Arms control has been pretty much dead as a doornail for most of the last decade. The Bush administration crushed arms control as an issue. Their space policy even included somewhat unnecessary language that anything to do with arms control would not be permitted to affect US space operations. (The 2006 Space Policy said: “The United States will oppose the development of new legal regimes or other restrictions that seek to prohibit or limit U.S. access to or use of space. Proposed arms control agreements or restrictions must not impair the rights of the United States to conduct research, development, testing, and operations or other activities in space for U.S. national interests…”

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My Comment: If there is no US-Russian arms agreement signed in the next few months .... this will be the sleeper issue that becomes wide awake in 2010.

As Arms Meeting Looms, Russia Offers Carrot Of Sharp Cuts

A Russian SS-27 Topol-M mobile ICBM (Photo from Kiev Ukraine News Blog)

From The New York Times:

MOSCOW — President Dmitri A. Medvedev said Saturday that Russia was prepared to carry out significant reductions in its nuclear arsenal as part of its continuing arms control negotiations with the United States, which are to culminate here in a summit meeting with President Obama next month.

His comments were among the clearest yet by Russia outlining its position on arms control.

But Mr. Medvedev, issuing a warning in advance of the summit meeting, also reiterated Russian objections to an antimissile system proposed by the United States. He indicated that it had to be scrapped for the two countries to make any progress on arms control.

Negotiators for the United States and Russia have met several times already to hammer out a successor to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or Start, which expires Dec. 5.

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My Comment: With the development of missile technologies from Iran and North Korea .... and with Russia's disinterest in assisting the West in stopping and/or limiting these developments .... missile defense technologies are going to continue and this Arms Control Pact is gong to go nowhere. Russia knows this, hence this positioning of themselves before any serious talks are to resume.