Moscow, Oct 28: Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially signed a law terminating the long dormant plutonium disposal agreement with the United States, a pact originally aimed at limiting the production and use of weapons grade nuclear material, RT reported.
The State Duma (lower house of Parliament) approved the termination bill earlier this month, followed by the Federation Council’s endorsement last week. The law came into force on Monday after receiving the president’s assent.
The Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA), signed in September 2000, obligated both nations to safely dispose of 34 tons of weapons-grade plutonium that was no longer required for military purposes. However, Moscow suspended the accord in October 2016, accusing Washington of “hostile actions,” including economic sanctions and the expansion of NATO’s influence near Russian borders, RT noted.
The latest move comes shortly after Russia’s announcement of a successful test of its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile. In a recent address to the Federal Assembly, Putin said the country had developed a compact nuclear power unit capable of powering a cruise missile with “practically unlimited range” and an unpredictable flight trajectory.
Describing the Burevestnik as unmatched globally, Putin said the missile had been tested successfully, remaining airborne for 15 hours and covering approximately 14,000 kilometres (8,700 miles). Russian officials have hailed the system as a major strategic advancement in defense technology.
Meanwhile, tensions between Moscow and Washington continue to escalate. The United States recently imposed new sanctions on Russian oil companies, calling it an “appropriate and necessary” response to Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump remains frustrated by the lack of progress on a potential Russia-Ukraine peace deal. “The president has always maintained that he would impose sanctions on Russia when he felt it was appropriate and necessary and yesterday was that day,” she said during a press briefing.
The termination of the plutonium disposal pact further underscores the deepening rift between Russia and the US, reviving concerns over the erosion of nuclear arms control frameworks that have underpinned global stability for decades.