The US has informed Russia that it will no longer exchange data on its nuclear forces in response to Moscow's decision to suspend its participation in the new START treaty for the reduction of atomic weapons: writes the Wall Street Journal quoting American leaders.
"This is the first action we've taken under the treaty in response to Russia's suspension," a senior Biden administration official said.
"Our goal is to encourage Russia to return to compliance with the treaty."
According to international law, a White House source explained, the United States has the right to respond to Russia's violations of the New Start treaty by adopting "proportionate and reversible countermeasures to induce Russia to return to its obligations".
"This means that since Russia's claimed suspension of the New Start Treaty is legally invalid, the United States is legally entitled to withhold its semi-annual data update in response to Russia's violations," she added.
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