Putin signs decree suspending INF treaty with U.S.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday, suspending the country's participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with the U.S., according to RIA.

Putin ordered the treaty be suspended until Washington stops violating the treaty and has told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform signatories to the accord of Russia's move to suspend it, the text of the decree showed.

Putin announced at the beginning of February that Russia has suspended the INF Treaty and has no plans to initiate new disarmament talks with Washington, causing fear among European nations.

Some have expressed fears the treaty's collapse could lead to a new arms race with possibly a new generation of U.S. nuclear missiles stationed on the continent.

The U.S. announced on February 1 that it will withdraw from the INF Treaty in six months unless Moscow ends what it says are violations of the landmark 1987 arms control pact.

Russia confirms compliance with INF treaty, rebuking the U.S.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) attends a meeting with Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russia's Foreign Minister in Moscow, February 2, 2019. /VCG Photo‍

China is opposed to the U.S. pulling out of the INF Treaty with Russia, and calls for constructive dialogue from both sides to resolve differences, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a statement on the treaty.

Reactions from world after INF chaos

NATO allies "fully support" the United States' pending withdrawal notice from the INF nuclear missile pact over Russia's actions, a statement by the alliance said.

"The United States is taking this action in response to the significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security posed by Russia's covert testing, production, and fielding of 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile systems," it said. "Allies fully support this action."

The French government called on Russia to use the six-month period triggered by the United States' decision to withdraw from the INF to comply with its obligations under the landmark accord.

The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it regretted the U.S. decision to quit the treaty in six months unless Moscow ends its alleged violations of the 1987 arms control agreement.

The ministry added that France will encourage dialogue with Russia during the six-month period and consult with NATO alliance partners.

The German government said it would use a six-month notice period to keep negotiating with Russia over the INF treaty.

"In any case, we will do everything we can on the German side, both the federal foreign minister and I, to make talks possible again in these six months," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.