Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual address on February 21 that Moscow “is halting its participation in the New START deal” with the United States. The treaty restricts each nation to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles and strategic bombers. Putin stressed that Russia was not leaving the accord, just halting its participation as he said Russia must stand ready to resume nuclear weapons tests if the United States does. Washington said in January that Russia was not complying with its obligation under the treaty to allow inspection activities on its territory.
