LDPR Leader Announces Support for Abolishing the CFE
Leonid Slutsky, the head of the LDPR party, indicated that the State Duma Committee on International Relations has expressed unanimous support for terminating the Convention on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). The news was reported by DEA News, and Slutsky emphasized the unanimous backing during his remarks.
“The committee unanimously supported it,” Slutsky affirmed, underscoring the party’s stance on moving away from the CFE framework.
Reports indicate that the draft bill initiating the termination of the CFE Treaty could be submitted to the State Duma on May 10 or 11. The CFE Treaty, originally signed in Paris in 1990, was later updated at the OSCE summit in Istanbul in 1999. Russia suspended its participation in 2007, citing concerns about NATO members’ ratification of a Harmonization Treaty and their commitment to implementing the agreement in good faith.
Earlier statements from Slutsky, as the head of the LDPR faction, suggested that the prospects for resuming negotiations with Ukraine were not favorable. He asserted that the Russian side had repeatedly demonstrated willingness to engage, but Kiev had shown opposition. Slutsky also noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had reportedly forbidden himself from such negotiations in September of the previous year, reflecting the broader tension surrounding talks and negotiations during that period.
These developments come amid ongoing discussions about arms control accords in Europe, the status of the CFE framework, and the complex dynamics of relations between Moscow, Kyiv, and Western alliance partners. The LDPR’s position adds to the broader debate over security arrangements on the continent and the potential implications for regional stability and international oversight of conventional forces.
Analysts caution that the decision to terminate the CFE could have wide-ranging consequences for defense postures, alliance commitments, and monitoring mechanisms in Europe. Observers note that any move away from the CFE would require careful coordination among participating states and clear communication about the implications for existing treaty provisions, verification regimes, and risk reduction measures. The situation remains a focal point in discussions about European security architecture and the future of arms control in the region.
In the wider context, commentary from officials and experts stresses the importance of balancing national security priorities with regional stability. The evolving stance of Moscow on the CFE and related negotiations with Ukraine loops back into broader themes of strategic parity, transparency in military deployments, and the role of multinational bodies in safeguarding peace and stability in Europe.
Ultimately, the draft may move through the Duma in the coming weeks, with subsequent debates shaping the next phase of arms control policy and regional security arrangements. The unfolding process highlights how changes to long-standing treaties can reflect shifts in political will and security calculus across major international actors.