[cardcrimson]

This article was concerning
  Putin promotes Russian escalation in annual speech

"Russia suspends its participation in the New Start treaty," announced the Kremlin leader in his state of the nation address.

The Russian president announced that he had signed a decree on "putting new ground-based strategic complexes on combat standby duty".

He warned that Russia was ready to resume nuclear weapons testing.


New Start had been in trouble. Last month Washington had accused Moscow of violating the agreement by refusing to allow inspection activities on its territory.

But is there anything surprising in the comments? Bluster and Blather one would expect; blame the war on the West. Same tired narrative. Importantly, he did qualify the restart of nuclear weapons testing by adding "if the US does so first" (or something similar). I don't see that in our future.

[cardcrimson]

This article was concerning
  Putin promotes Russian escalation in annual speech

"Russia suspends its participation in the New Start treaty," announced the Kremlin leader in his state of the nation address.

The Russian president announced that he had signed a decree on "putting new ground-based strategic complexes on combat standby duty".

He warned that Russia was ready to resume nuclear weapons testing.


New Start had been in trouble. Last month Washington had accused Moscow of violating the agreement by refusing to allow inspection activities on its territory.

But is there anything surprising in the comments? Bluster and Blather one would expect; blame the war on the West. Same tired narrative. Importantly, he did qualify the restart of nuclear weapons testing by adding "if the US does so first" (or something similar). I don't see that in our future.