Early this week AlertsUSA subscribers were informed of a security alert issued by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow warning any Americans still in Russia to avoid all political or social protests related to this week's first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine and to not photograph security personnel at these events. The embassy was also refreshingly blunt in their recommended actions, saying do not travel to Russia, and if you are already there, make plans to leave.
During an annual address before the Federal Assembly on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he was suspending Moscow’s participation in the New START treaty, the last remaining U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control pact.
"I am compelled to announce today that Russia is suspending its membership in the New START Treaty. To reiterate, we are not withdrawing from the Treaty, but rather suspending our participation."
He continues:
"We know the truth. We are aware of the fact that certain types of US nuclear weapons are reaching the end of their service life. In this regard, we know for certain that some politicians in Washington are already pondering live nuclear tests, especially since the United States is developing innovative nuclear weapons."
"Given these circumstances, the Defence Ministry and Rosatom must make everything ready for Russia to conduct nuclear tests. We will not be the first to proceed with these tests, but if the United States goes ahead with them, we will as well. No one should harbour dangerous illusions that global strategic parity can be disrupted."
Secretary of State Blinken slammed Putin’s move, calling it “deeply unfortunate and irresponsible.”
Failed ICBM Test
It is interesting to note that Putin's speech was delivered on the same day Joe Biden was in Poland for his own speech marking the one-year anniversary of the invasion, and one day after Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv. Even more interesting.... CNN was first to report that at the same time Biden was in Kyiv, Russia carried out a test launch of an RS-28 Sarmat ICBM, and that missile test appears to have failed.
The Sarmat is one of six new Russian strategic weapons unveiled by Putin in 2018. The first test flight was in April of 2022. This is a silo-based, 3-stage, liquid-fueled, 10+ nuclear warhead platform that includes penetration aids used to evade missile defenses. The Sarmat is reported to have a short boost phase and a range of 11,000 miles, enabling it to fly trajectories over the southern hemisphere.
Putin briefly mentioned the Sarmat program during his Tuesday speech, saying the missiles would be deployed this year.
Medvedev Threatens Poland
Former Russian president and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev this week stated that the only way for Moscow to ensure a lasting peace with Ukraine was to push back the borders of hostile states as far as possible, even if that meant the frontiers of NATO member Poland.
His comments Friday coincided with Poland’s first delivery of over a dozen German-made Leopard II tanks to Ukraine
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