State Duma votes to suspend Russia's participation in Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty

This was reported by the Russian media. 

On February 22, the State Duma supported the law, which was submitted by Putin on February 21.

In the explanatory note, the Russian MPs accused the United States of suspending the agreement, which was signed in Prague on April 8, 2010. 

"The United States is deliberately failing to fulfill its obligations under the treaty in this area of activity," the document says.

The law itself states that the decision on Russia's renewal of the Treaty between Russia and the United States on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms will be adopted personally by the President of the Russian Federation.

• On January 21, Vladimir Putin announced that Russia was suspending its participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. 

• Putin also ordered the Russian military to prepare for nuclear weapons tests.