Moscow, Feb 21 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the Federal Assembly (Russia's two-chamber Parliament), in Moscow on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
Putin congratulated the military on Orthodox Easter, which was celebrated Sunday and presented them with icons….reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the headquarters of Russian troops fighting in Ukraine early Tuesday, his second trip to the Russian-held territories there since March.
A video released by the Kremlin and broadcast by Russian state television showed Putin visiting the command post for Russian forces in the southern Kherson region. It showed Putin arriving by helicopter to receive reports from the top military brass about the combat situation.
The Russian leader then moved by helicopter to the headquarters of the Russian National Guard of the eastern Luhansk region to hear a report from commanders.
In both locations, Putin congratulated the military on Orthodox Easter, which was celebrated Sunday and presented them with icons.
Russia annexed the Kherson and Luhansk regions along with the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions in September in a move that was rejected by much of the world as illegal.
It was impossible to independently verify the footage of Putin’s visits to the two regions that was released by the Kremlin. The trip marked a second visit by the Russian leader to the areas that Russia occupied in Ukraine in as many months.
Last month, Putin visited the Russian-held Sea of Azov port city of Mariupol, which was captured by Russian troops in May after two months of fierce fighting.
The locations of the military headquarters in the Kherson and Luhansk regions weren’t disclosed, so it wasn’t possible to assess how close they are to the front line.
Putin’s trips to the military headquarters come as Ukraine is preparing for a new counteroffensive to reclaim the occupied territories.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has turned into a stalemate amid heavy fighting in the country’s east, particularly around the town of Bakhmut, which for 8½ months has been the stage for the war’s longest and bloodiest fight.
Ukrainian officials have said they’re buying time by depleting Russian forces in the battle while Kyiv prepares a counteroffensive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has argued that if Russia wins the Bakhmut battle, it could allow Putin to begin building international support for a deal that would require Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises to end the war.
Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, told The Associated Press in an interview in Kyiv that Ukraine’s allies are helping the government to achieve the level of technical equipment necessary to launch the attack, delivering heavy armored vehicles and ammunition.
He expressed confidence that Ukraine will be able to return all its occupied territories.
“We will defeat Russia,” he said. “If you have a strong inner spirit, you will definitely win. And we always had it strong. This is something that always annoyed the Russians.”
Moscow, Feb 21 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the Federal Assembly (Russia's two-chamber Parliament), in Moscow on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
The New York Times (NYT) recently reported that public opinion in Ukraine towards China is souring as Beijing is maintaining its professed neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday hailed Russia’s broad ties with China, including military cooperation, as he met with Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu in Moscow, Voice of America (VOA) reported.
Putin in his opening remarks said: “Development of relations between our two nations is going well in all areas, in the economy, social, cultural and educational sectors, and in military departments.” The Kremlin posted footage of the meeting showing Putin shaking hands with Li and then sitting down at a table. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was also present, as per VOA.
China last week announced Li’s visit to Moscow, saying that he would meet Russian defence officials. The meeting with Putin was, however, not mentioned. Chinese President Xi Jinping met Putin in Moscow last month.
According to VOA, China, Russia have strengthened their ties since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. China has officially claimed neutrality on Moscow’s invasion but at the same time, Russia and China have declared they have a “no-limits” partnership.
A peace plan has been offered by China to end the fighting in Ukraine, but it does not call for Russia to withdraw its troops, as demanded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before peace talks can occur.
China has often denied sending military equipment to Russia, but a Kyiv official said last Friday that Ukrainian forces are finding a growing number of components from China in Russian weapons used in Ukraine, as per VOA.
The New York Times (NYT) recently reported that public opinion in Ukraine towards China is souring as Beijing is maintaining its professed neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
China had been Ukraine’s top trade partner, importing barley, corn and arms. Now, Russia’s war raises the question: Is there still a relationship? asked Vivian Wang in an NYT article.
Japanese student dresses like Zelensky for graduation ceremony.(photo:Instagram)
Notably, last time in January 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, spoke, when they celebrated 30 years of diplomatic ties, hailing their “deepening political mutual trust” and their people’s “profound friendship.”
However, since the start of the war on February 24, Xi has not spoken to Zelenskyy, despite the latter’s repeated requests. And the “sound and stable” relationship they touted seems like a distant memory, reported NYT. (ANI)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a speech in Ankara, Turkey, on May 18, 2022. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua/IANS)
The deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July to ensure safe passage for ships carrying grain exports from Ukraine…reports Asian Lite News
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday held a telephonic conversation with their Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. During the talks, Erdogan praised Putin for his “positive stance” regarding the extension of the Black Sea grain initiative.
Turkish President called for “immediate cessation” of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine through negotiations. Erdogan and Putin also spoke about the latest developments in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Taking to its official Twitter handle, the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey stated, “President Erdogan thanked President Putin for his positive stance regarding the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. President Erdogan highlighted the importance Turkiye attaches to the immediate cessation of the Russia-Ukraine conflicts through negotiations.”
“The Turkish leader positively assessed Russia’s consent to extend the Istanbul Agreements, which deal with the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports and the unblocking of exports of Russian food and fertilizers for 60 days,” the statement released by the Kremlin read.
It further stated, “At the same time, he acknowledged Russia’s principled position to fulfil the second part of the aforementioned package of agreements, which are aimed at eliminating barriers in place for agricultural products from Russia.”
Last week, Erdogan announced an extension of the Black Sea grain deal, CNN reported. The deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July to ensure safe passage for ships carrying grain exports from Ukraine.
During the telephonic conversation, the two leaders discussed steps to strengthen ties between Turkey and Russia. Erdogan stressed that the two nations could take further measures based on the economic cooperation agreed upon in Sochi.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the “positive dynamic” of trade and economic ties, the implementation of joint strategic power engineering projects, including gas supplies, and the construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Turkey, according to the statement released by the Kremlin.
Erdogan expressed his gratitude to Russia for its help in overcoming the aftermath of earthquakes in Turkey. The two leaders agreed to continue working on the potential delivery of construction materials from Russia to restore destroyed infrastructure and residential buildings. During the talks, Putin and Erdogan spoke about the Syrian issue and the importance of continuing the normalization of Turkish-Syrian ties. (ANI)
There are plans to expand industrial cooperation, including aircraft and shipbuilding industries, and other high-tech sectors…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday a Chinese peace plan could provide a basis for a settlement of the fighting in Ukraine when the West is ready for it.
Speaking after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Putin charged that Ukraine’s Western allies so far have shown no interest in that.
He also said British plans to provide Ukraine with ammunition for battle tanks containing depleted uranium signifies the West switching to supplying Kyiv with weapons containing nuclear components. He said that Russia will respond if it happens, but didn’t elaborate.
Speaking Tuesday at talks involving top officials from both countries, Putin said he wants to expand bilateral economic ties, noting Russian-Chinese trade rose by 30% last year to $185 billion. It’s expected to top $200 billion this year, he added.
Russia stands “ready to meet the Chinese economy’s growing demand for energy resources” by boosting deliveries of oil and gas, he said.
There are plans to expand industrial cooperation, including aircraft and shipbuilding industries, and other high-tech sectors.
Xi said he aimed to “strengthen coordination and interaction” with Russia, adding that it would help “the prosperity and revival of China and Russia.”
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov accused NATO of wanting to become the world’s dominant military force and said Moscow is trying to prevent it.
“That is why we are expanding our cooperation with China, including in the security sphere,” he said.
Western officials “have seen some signs” that Putin also wants lethal weapons from China, though there is no evidence Beijing has granted his request, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels on Tuesday.
“China should not provide lethal aid to Russia,” Stoltenberg said. “That would be to support an illegal war and only prolong the war.”
Japan in Ukraine
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a surprise visit Tuesday to Kyiv, stealing some of the global attention from Asian rival President Xi Jinping of China, who is in Moscow to show support for Russia against the West.
The two visits, about 800 kilometres (500 miles) apart, highlighted the nearly 13-month-old war’s repercussions for international diplomacy as countries line up behind Moscow or Kyiv. They follow a week in which China and Japan both enjoyed diplomatic successes that have emboldened their foreign policy.
Kishida, who is to chair the Group of Seven summit in May, will meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Ukrainian capital, coinciding with Xi’s talks for a second day with President Vladimir Putin in the Russian capital.
In my grandparents’ generation, Japan was a destroyer, not a defender. Now Kishida is in Ukraine, a strong democratic voice. As an ethnic Chinese, I then see Xi with Putin the same week and honestly, the contrast — it makes me sad. pic.twitter.com/JCiGcFHxxv
Kishida will “show respect to the courage and patience of the Ukrainian people who are standing up to defend their homeland under President Zelenskyy’s leadership, and show solidarity and unwavering support for Ukraine as head of Japan and chairman of G-7,” during his visit to Ukraine, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in announcing his trip to Kyiv.
Kyodo News said Kishida visited a church in Bucha, a town outside Kyiv that became a symbol of Russian atrocities against civilians, laid flowers at a church there and paid his respects to the victims.
“I’m outraged by the cruelty. I represent the Japanese citizens to express my condolences to those who lost their lives,” he was quoted as saying.
Kishida was the only G-7 leader who hadn’t visited Ukraine and was under domestic pressure to do so. U.S. President Joe Biden took a similar route to visit Kyiv last month, just before the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
Kishida, Japan’s first postwar leader to enter a war zone, was invited by Zelenskyy in January to visit Kyiv.
Japan’s aid to Ukraine
Due to its pacifist principles, Japan’s support for Ukraine has been limited to equipment such as helmets, bulletproof vests and drones, and humanitarian supplies including generators.
Japan has contributed more than $7 billion to Ukraine, and accepted more than 2,000 displaced Ukrainians and helped them with housing assistance and support for jobs and education, a rare move in a country that is known for its strict immigration policy.
Two different European-Pacific partnerships
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel tweeted about the “two very different European-Pacific partnerships” that unfolded Tuesday.
“Kishida stands with freedom, and Xi stands with a war criminal,” Emanuel said, referring to last week’s action by the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Putin, saying it wanted to put him on trial for the abductions of thousands of children from Ukraine.
Tokyo joined the U.S. and European nations in sanctioning Russia over its invasion and providing humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine. In contrast, China has refused to condemn Moscow’s aggression and criticized Western sanctions against Moscow, while accusing NATO and Washington of provoking Putin’s military action.
Japan was quick to react because it fears the possible impact of a war in East Asia, where China’s military has grown increasingly assertive and has escalated tensions around self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.
At a meeting Tuesday with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Xi said he invited Putin to visit China later this year for a top-level meeting of China’s One Belt, One Road regional initiative, which seeks to extend Beijing’s influence through economic cooperation projects.
During a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow, China’s President Xi Jinping explained why Russia is his first destination after re-election.
Moscow and Beijing have both weathered international condemnation of their human rights record. The Chinese government has been widely condemned for alleged atrocities against Uighur Muslims in its far western Xinjiang region. The allegations include genocide, forced sterilization and the mass detention of nearly a million Uighurs. Beijing has denied the allegations.
China looks to Russia as a partner in standing up to what both see as US aggression, domination of global affairs and unfair criticism of their human rights records.
Xi, who called Putin his “dear friend,” praised his Russian counterpart, saying the country’s development had “significantly improved”…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Kremlin, has said his country is “always open for a negotiation process”.
Putin made the remarks on Monday in response to China’s “plan settle ongoing Ukraine crisis”.
The plan aimed to “end the Russia-Ukraine war” was released by China in February. However, the US has warned it could be a “stalling tactic”.
“The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“Calling for a ceasefire that does not include the removal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory would effectively be supporting the ratification of Russian conquest,” Blinken added.
Talks between the two leaders lasted four and a half hours on Monday, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Further formal meetings are expected to follow on Tuesday.
Xi, who called Putin his “dear friend,” praised his Russian counterpart, saying the country’s development had “significantly improved”.
“Both sides exchanged in-depth views on the Ukraine issue,” reported Xinhua news agency, describing the leaders’ meeting as “in-depth and candid.”
Earlier, Speaking at informal talks at the start of Xi’s state visit to Moscow, Putin also said that Russia was “slightly envious” of China’s rapid development in recent decades.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and the United Kingdom have called on the Chinese leader to use his influence and press Moscow to end the war.
The UK said that China should back up its support for the respect of territorial integrity and demand that Russia end its war in Ukraine.
“We hope President Xi uses this opportunity to press President (Vladimir) Putin to cease bombing Ukrainian cities, hospitals, schools, to halt some of these atrocities that we are seeing on a daily basis,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said as Xi and Putin meet in Moscow.
Kyiv expects China to use its influence on Russia to end the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said.
“Ukraine is following the Chinese President’s visit to Russia closely,” Nikolenko said in a statement to Reuters shortly after China’s Xi arrived in Moscow for talks with Putin.
“We expect Beijing to use its influence on Moscow to make it put an end to the aggressive war against Ukraine.”
Kyiv says any negotiations surrounding a peace deal must involve a full withdrawal of Russian troops and respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
“We stand ready to engage in a closer dialogue with China in order to restore peace in Ukraine in accordance with the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, and the latest UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) resolution on this matter,” Nikolenko said.
China’s release last month of a 12-point statement of broad principles on the war that called for respecting the sovereignty of all countries, abandoning the Cold War mentality, ceasing hostilities, resuming peace talks, resolving the humanitarian crisis, protecting civilians and prisoners of war (POWs), keeping nuclear power plants safe, reducing strategic risks, facilitating grain exports, stopping unilateral sanctions, keeping industrial and supply chains stable and promoting post-conflict reconstruction.
But Western leaders have expressed scepticism about China’s potential role as a peacemaker and its claimed neutrality. The United States and its allies have instead since last month warned that China is considering sending lethal aid to Russia for its war effort, which Beijing has denied.
Xi also told Putin in talks at the Kremlin that he was “convinced” that Putin enjoyed the Russian people’s support ahead of a presidential election scheduled for next year, reported Reuters.
Speaking through an interpreter on the first day of his state visit to Russia, President Xi also thanked Putin for what he said was his support for China and said that Beijing should have close relations with Moscow.
This is the first time China’s leader has visited his neighbour and close strategic partner since Russia-Ukraine started on February 24th, 2022.
Xi’s visit comes days after the International Criminal Court in the Hague accused Putin of committing war crimes in Ukraine and issued a warrant for his arrest.
Xi’s trip is likely to be seen in some Western capitals as a ringing endorsement of the Russian leader in the face of broad international condemnation of his war.
Putin launched his invasion days after he and Xi declared a “no limits” partnership last February.
Since that time China has claimed neutrality, but backed Kremlin rhetoric blaming NATO for the conflict, refused to condemn the invasion, and continued to support Moscow financially by significantly increasing purchases of Russian fuel.
On Friday following the announcement of Xi’s Moscow trip, the White House expressed concerns about potential proposals from China that would be “one-sided and reflect only the Russian perspective.”
For example, a proposal for a ceasefire – which China has repeatedly called for – would merely provide a way for Russia to regroup before launching a reprisal, said John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council.
Talks between the two leaders lasted four and a half hours on Monday, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Further formal meetings are expected to follow on Tuesday…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Kremlin, has said his country is “always open for a negotiation process”.
Putin made the remarks on Monday in response to China’s “plan settle ongoing Ukraine crisis”.
The plan aimed to “end the Russia-Ukraine war” was released by China in February. However, the US has warned it could be a “stalling tactic”, the BBC reported.
“The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was quoted as saying by the British broadcaster.
“Calling for a ceasefire that does not include the removal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory would effectively be supporting the ratification of Russian conquest,” Blinken added.
Talks between the two leaders lasted four and a half hours on Monday, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Further formal meetings are expected to follow on Tuesday.
Xi, who called Putin his “dear friend,” praised his Russian counterpart, saying the country’s development had “significantly improved”, CNN reported.
“Both sides exchanged in-depth views on the Ukraine issue,” reported Xinhua news agency, describing the leaders’ meeting as “in-depth and candid.”
ICC accused the Russian president of responsibility for war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine…reports Asian Lite News
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian official Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova for the alleged scheme to deport Ukrainian children to Russia, reported CNN.
The Hague-based ICC accused the Russian president of responsibility for war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine during the war that has been ongoing for over a year.
The Hague-based court said in a statement on Friday Putin “is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of the population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.”
It also issued a warrant for the arrest of Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the commissioner for children’s rights in the office of the president of the Russian Federation on similar allegations, reported Al Jazeera.
Russia did not immediately comment following the ICC’s move on Friday. Russia denies committing atrocities since it invaded Ukraine in February last year.
The warrants came a day after a United Nations-backed inquiry accused Russia of committing wide-ranging war crimes in Ukraine, including the forced deportations of children in areas it controls, reported Al Jazeera.
The UN genocide convention defines “forcibly transferring children of the group to another group” as one of five acts that can be prosecuted as genocide.
However, the successful extradition of President Putin could prove a far greater challenge as Russia does not recognise the jurisdiction of the international criminal court in The Hague, reported DW News.
Russia denies deliberately harming civilians but its defence ministry has claimed to have targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Situation in #Ukraine: #ICC judges issue arrest warrants against Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova Read more ⤵️ https://t.co/5OMC7Xuuy5
Russia signed the Rome statute, which governs the ICC, in 2000 but never ratified the agreement to become a member. It formally withheld its signature from the founding statute of the ICC in 2016, a day after the court published a report classifying the Russian annexation of Crimea as an occupation.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin has severed ties with several prominent international organisations, deepening the country’s isolation from the west.
In March last year, Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe, the continent’s leading human rights watchdog, over its attack on Ukraine.
Moscow is also pulling out of the International Space Station after 2024 and has threatened to withdraw from the World Trade Organization and the World Health Organization. (ANI)
Moscow, Feb 21 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the Federal Assembly (Russia's two-chamber Parliament), in Moscow on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
Reports said that even as the Kremlin is currently considering this, no decision has been taken in this regard…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to attend the G20 summit in September in Delhi, reports citing officials said.
As per reports, the Kremlin is working to clear Putin’s schedule to make it possible for the Russian President to participate after he had to skip the last two summits.
Reports said that even as the Kremlin is currently considering this, no decision has been taken in this regard.
No official confirmation has been issued in this regard, even though India has formally invited Putin and the Kremlin has accepted it.
The report also said that the Kremlin is preparing for an annual economic forum in Vladivostok, which was scheduled for the eve of the September 9-10 summit.
But it was shifted to a week later to give Putin greater flexibility and open the possibility that senior officials from India and China might attend the forum, the report said, citing sources.
While India has invited Putin to the G20 Summit, the Kremlin has officially accepted the invite. However, last year, due to pressure from the US and its allies regarding the conflict, Putin withdrew his invitation to the conference in Indonesia and sent Sergei Lavrov in his place.
Reports said that the Kremlin has, however, felt a little less alone in the group since November.
Earlier in March in Delhi at the G20 foreign ministers conference, Russia and China rejected language on the conflict that had been agreed upon at the leaders’ summit in Indonesia less than six months prior.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (R) meets with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tehran, Iran, on July 19, 2022. (Iranian Presidential Website/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)
The two sides on Monday exchanged views on economic cooperation and ways to expand it…reports Asian Lite News
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation on the latest developments in bilateral economic cooperation.
The two sides on Monday exchanged views on economic cooperation and ways to expand it, particularly in the field of international transportation, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the website of the Iranian President’s office.
The two leaders also reviewed initiatives involving regional transportation development, according to Mohammad Jamshidi, deputy chief of staff for political affairs to the Iranian President.
Jamshidi explained in a tweet that the Eurasian integration is the second phase of Raisi’s neighbourhood policy which includes the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and the International North-South Transport Corridor with Russia.
The goal is to strengthen Iran’s geoeconomic role, he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the plenary session of the 19th annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in the Moscow region, Russia on Oct. 27, 2022. (Kremlin press release/IANS/Xinhua)
The law came into force immediately after the signing on Tuesday and the decision to resume Russia’s participation in the treaty is up to the head of state…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law officially suspending his country’s participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the US.
The law came into force immediately after the signing on Tuesday and the decision to resume Russia’s participation in the treaty is up to the head of state, reports Xinhua news agency.
In his annual State of the Nation to the Federal Assembly on February 21, Putin said Russia was suspending its participation in, rather than withdrawing from, the New START treaty.
He also pointed out the combined strike potential of NATO as Britain and France also have nuclear arsenals that pose a threat to Russia.
A day later, a bill on the New START treaty suspension was unanimously adopted by Russia’s parliament and then sent to Putin for his final approval.
The New START, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty in force between the two nuclear superpowers, was signed in 2010 and took effect on February 5, 2011.
The Treaty stipulates that seven years after its entry into force, each party should have no more than a total of 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and strategic bombers, as well as no more than 1,550 warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs and strategic bombers, and a total of 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers and strategic bombers.
On February 3, 2021, the two nations exchanged notes on the completion of internal procedures necessary for the agreement on extending the term of the treaty for five years to take effect.
On August 8, 2022, Russia informed the US it was temporary pausing New START inspections of its facilities in the wake of the sanctions imposed on Moscow in the wake of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
