The head of the Federation Council’s international committee, Grigory Karasin, indicated that Moscow’s ministry could raise for discussion, after the State Duma reviews it, a proposed law to pause Russia’s participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Karasin clarified that this potential move is being considered in the context of ongoing parliamentary and executive consultations, and he noted the information came from DEA News for reference.
In parallel, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin disclosed that President Vladimir Putin has forwarded a draft law to suspend Russia’s involvement in START. The announcement was reported by TASS, which emphasized that the draft now sits before the lower chamber for scrutiny and debate. The lawmakers are expected to examine the measure in the near term as part of formal legislative procedures.
Volodin added that the parliament aims to take up the bill on Wednesday, February 22, as part of its regular plenary schedule. This timing aligns with the broader rhythm of Russia’s legislative calendar, which often sets specific dates for major policy items to be considered in the chamber. During the February 21 address to the Federal Assembly, President Putin underscored that continuation of Moscow’s START commitments would hinge on a clear and comprehensive explanation from NATO members possessing nuclear arsenals about how they intend to disclose and inventory their strategic weapons. Washington has urged Moscow to rescind the START suspension, while Brussels has warned that such a move could undermine the stability of the international security framework, a concern echoed by various international observers and security analysts (policy briefings and official statements cited in reporting). This sequence illustrates the heightened tension and the potential strategic recalibration facing major powers as they reassess arms control commitments in the current security environment.