NATO member countries condemned on Tuesday Russia’s decision to formally withdraw from the historic treaty limiting conventional military forces in Europe, and decided to suspend their participation.
Russia decided in 2007 to suspend its participation in this treaty on conventional weapons in Europe, which entered into force in 1992 after the fall of the USSR.
Moscow announced its formal withdrawal from this treaty on Monday.
Moscow’s war against Ukraine has dealt a fatal blow to arms control treaties that have balanced or reduced forces in Europe for decades.
The Allies announced in a statement “condemn Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), and its war of aggression against Ukraine, contrary to the objectives of the Treaty.”
“Therefore,” NATO member countries also announced their intention to “suspend their participation in the CFE Treaty for as long as necessary,” the statement added.