The Government rejects Putin's decision to suspend its participation in the Treaty to reduce nuclear weapons

MADRID, 21 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Minister for Territorial Policy and Government Spokesperson, Isabel Rodríguez, today expressed the Spanish Executive's concern and rejection of Russia's decision to suspend its participation in the Nuclear Weapons Reduction Treaty.

This was stated during the press conference after the Council of Ministers and after the speech delivered today by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine, in which he announced the suspension of the Russian participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), the last pact signed with the United States for the reduction and control of nuclear weapons.

Putin, who has indicated that Russia "must be prepared to carry out nuclear tests if the United States carries them out first", has pointed out that it is not a question of "abandoning" the treaty completely but of "suspending participation". In addition, he has called NATO's calls for Russia to comply with the treaty "absurd."

Following these statements, Isabel Rodríguez wanted to make it clear that "the Government expresses its concern and rejection of Russia's decision to suspend its participation in the nuclear arms reduction treaty."

In addition, the government spokesperson reiterated Spain's solidarity and unity within the EU as a whole with the Ukrainian people "when it comes to repelling this unilateral, unfair and unjustified aggression."

Finally, he took the opportunity to claim the European model of coexistence, of rights and freedoms. It is about the values, he has said, that Europe defends and that are being threatened today by Putin in this war. In the minister's opinion, "guaranteeing peace means defending the model of coexistence and freedoms."