21/02/2023 (Agence Europe) – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, on Tuesday 21 February, that he regretted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to suspend Russia’s participation in the new START Treaty, which limits Russian and US strategic nuclear forces. “In recent years, Russia has violated and walked away from key arms control agreements. With (this) decision on the new START, the whole arms control architecture has been dismantled”, he said. Mr Stoltenberg “strongly encouraged” Moscow to reconsider its decision and respect existing agreements. In early February, the Allies had underlined their concerns about Russia’s failure to meet its START obligations (see EUROPE 13114/5). According to the High Representative of the Union, the Russian announcement is “further proof that Russia is only demolishing the security system (...) built after the end of the Cold War”. (CG)