In May 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree denouncing the pact amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Russia has officially withdrawn from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE).
The Russian foreign ministry attributes this decision to the expansion of NATO by the United States.
The U.S. push for NATO enlargement and the recent admission of Finland into NATO, along with Sweden's application for membership, were cited as contributing factors to the treaty's demise.
Russia has officially withdrawn from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), a significant security agreement established in the aftermath of the Cold War. The treaty, signed in 1990, was designed to de-escalate potential conflicts between East and West by placing restrictions on the deployment of military equipment, thereby maintaining a balance of military power between NATO and the then-Warsaw Pact nations.
The Russian foreign ministry has attributed this decision to the actions of the United States, specifically the expansion of NATO. They argue that the enlargement of the alliance has led to member countries circumventing the restrictions of the treaty, causing it to lose touch with the current geopolitical reality.
In May 2023, amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree denouncing the pact. This move was met with condemnation from NATO. Furthermore, Russia has cited the U.S. push for NATO enlargement and the recent admission of Finland into NATO, along with Sweden's application for membership, as contributing factors to the treaty's demise.
This development is seen as a sign of escalating tensions between Russia and NATO, and it marks a significant shift in the post-Cold War security landscape in Europe.