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By Marni Rose McFall
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Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Friday that the "selfishness and hypocrisy of Western countries" had led to a "dangerous turn of events" and the world was "close to the point of no return."
Putin made the ominous remarks at a meeting with Russian foreign ministry officials and accused the U.S. of undermining global security because of its exit from arms pacts.
The Context
Back in 2019, the U.S. formally withdrew from a nuclear treaty with Russia, claiming that it undermined its national security interests.
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The INF, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) was signed by former U.S. president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev back in 1987. This treaty banned missiles that had ranges between 310 to 3,400 miles.
Last year, Russia suspended its participation in the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the U.S. This treaty capped the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the U.S. and Russia can deploy.
What We Know
Putin's remarks were part of a wide-ranging speech on Friday, in which he also said: "Calls to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, which has the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, demonstrate the extreme adventurism of Western politicians. They either do not understand the scale of the threat they themselves create, or they are simply obsessed with the belief in their own impunity and their own exclusivity. Both can turn into a tragedy."
Russia has 5,889 nuclear warheads, according to a 2023 report by the Federation of American Scientists. The U.S. has 5,244. Seven other countries possess nuclear weapons, but they are reportedly nowhere close to the U.S. and Russian stockpiles.
Putin also used his speech to respond to a decision by the Group of Seven nations to provide Ukraine with a loan of $50 billion, financed by seized Russian assets.
He stated that the West had committed "theft" of Russian assets, and threatened punishment as a result.
He said, "Despite all the chicanery, theft will certainly remain theft. And it will not go unpunished."
Putin also claimed to officials that the "Western model" of global security is collapsing. He said that this "needs to be essentially created anew." He said that he is open to talks with everyone, including NATO.
The Russian leader also outlined his conditions for peace talks with Ukraine.
This is a developing story and we will continue to update with more information.
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