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Putin Suspends Arms Pact

Moscow's move over anti-missle flap further imperils relations with US

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 14, 2007 3:26 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Vladimir Putin suspended the Kremlin’s recognition of a key arms control treaty today, citing the threat to Russian security posed by US plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. The 1990 pact limited the number of offensive weapons that could be deployed in Europe, the BBC explains; suspension means the Russians will no longer allow inspections or exchange data on arms.

The move is the latest volley from Putin over the planned missile shield, which the White House says is aimed at the likes of a nuclear Iran, not its former Cold War foe. An informal summit in Maine between Putin and President Bush, where Putin proposed an alternative shield system that would involve Russian participation, did little to repair the breach.

President Bush, right, accompanied by Russian President Vladimir Putin, gestures during their joint statement, Monday, July 2, 2007, at the Bush family compound at Walker's Point in Kennebunkport, Maine. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Bush, right, accompanied by Russian President Vladimir Putin, gestures during their joint statement, Monday, July 2, 2007, at the Bush family compound at Walker's Point in Kennebunkport, Maine....   (Associated Press)
KRT WORLD NEWS STORY SLUGGED: RUSSIA-ARMS KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY SERGEI SKRYNNIKOV/KRT
KRT WORLD NEWS STORY SLUGGED: RUSSIA-ARMS KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY SERGEI SKRYNNIKOV/KRT   (KRT Photos)
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures speaking at a meeting with government members in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, in this file photo of Thursday, July 12, 2007. President Vladimir Putin signed a decree suspending Russia's participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty Saturday July 14, 2007 due to extraordinary...
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures speaking at a meeting with government members in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, in this file photo of Thursday, July 12, 2007. President Vladimir...   (Associated Press)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a meeting with a group of top level U.S. and Russian diplomats, former government ministers and Cabinet secretaries in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Friday, July 13, 2007. President Vladimir Putin said Friday that relations between the United States and Russia should be...
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a meeting with a group of top level U.S. and Russian diplomats, former government ministers and Cabinet secretaries in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow,...   (Associated Press)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, accompanied by President Bush, gestures at the Bush family compound on Walker's Point in Kennebunkport, Maine, Monday, July 2, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, accompanied by President Bush, gestures at the Bush family compound on Walker's Point in Kennebunkport, Maine, Monday, July 2, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)   (Associated Press)
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Russia suspends arms treaty
Associated Press

Russia backs away from cold war arms pact
New York Times

Latest US-Russia row over arms treaty
New Europe

 
Vladimir Putin • The Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty • disarmament • Warsaw Pact • missile defense system • George W. Bush

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