Putin terminates plutonium disposal agreement with the United States
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Monday officially terminating the plutonium disposal agreementwith the United States — a deal designed to prevent both countries from expanding their nuclear arsenals.
The decision comes as relations between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump continue to deteriorate. Trump recently expressed growing frustration with his Russian counterpart for refusing to accept a peace deal in Ukraine.
Last week, Trump cancelled a planned peace summit with Putin, calling it a “waste of time,” and said he would not consider rescheduling unless Moscow signaled readiness to compromise.
The Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement, signed in 2000 and amended in 2010, committed both sides to eliminate 34 metric tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium each, repurposing it for nuclear power generation. U.S. officials estimated the program would destroy enough material for approximately 17,000 nuclear weapons.
Putin had already suspended Russia’s participation in 2016, when relations with former U.S. President Barack Obamawere worsening.
The law signed on Monday — previously approved by the Russian parliament — constitutes a formal “denunciation” of the agreement, permanently ending its legal effect.
Western leaders have accused Moscow of nuclear sabre-rattling since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Just days after the offensive began, Putin placed his nuclear forces on high alert, and last year signed a decree lowering the threshold for nuclear use.
On Sunday, the Kremlin announced that Russia had successfully tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, signaling continued advances in its strategic weapons programs.
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