Putin Signs Law Denouncing US-Russia Weapons-Grade Plutonium Disposal Agreement

Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally denounced the 2000 plutonium disposal agreement with the United States, which required each country to dispose of 34 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium no longer needed for defense purposes. The agreement, ratified by Russia in 2011, was suspended by Russia in 2016 due to what Moscow cited as unfriendly U.S. actions and the U.S. failure to fulfill its obligations, including disagreements over the method of plutonium disposal. Russia's denunciation includes all related protocols, such as those governing financial arrangements and civil liability, marking a complete withdrawal from the agreement. The move reflects deteriorating U.S.-Russia relations amid ongoing conflicts and follows Russia's demands for lifting sanctions and reducing U.S. military presence in NATO countries, which were not met. This development occurs against the backdrop of heightened nuclear tensions, with Putin recently lowering thresholds for nuclear weapon use and testing new nuclear weapons. The termination of this agreement signifies a setback in arms control efforts between the two nuclear powers.