- A wave of concern is spreading across the world
- According to these agreements, both the US and Russia agreed to remove 34 tons of excess plutonium in September 2000
Russian President Putin has officially withdrawn from key nuclear agreements with the US. Russia has taken this decision after successfully testing the dangerous ‘Burevestnik’ missile. Both countries had agreed to remove 34 tons of weapons-grade plutonium in these agreements. But Russia’s official withdrawal from them is spreading a wave of concern in the world.
It is learnt that President Putin took this decision after the approval given by the Duma (parliament).
According to the agreements signed between the two countries in 2000, both countries agreed to remove (possibly bury deep underground) 34 tons of their weapons-grade plutonium. The aim was to stop the production of more nuclear weapons.
It is worth mentioning that President Putin, in his address to the joint session of both houses of the Duma, announced that our scientists have successfully tested the Burevestnik, a powerful nuclear-powered cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear bombs. It can hit a target at a very long distance. This announcement by President Putin was greeted with cheers and applause by the members of the Duma.
On the other hand, US President Donald Trump called this missile test by Russia inappropriate and asked President Putin to focus on the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, the US president’s special flying fortress, President Trump said that he knows we have nuclear submarines. They are the best submarines in the world, they are stationed just off their (Russian) coast, so we don’t need to go 8,000 miles away. The truth is, they are not playing games with us. We are not playing games with them. All I have to say about that missile is that it is not appropriate. Putin should focus on the Ukraine war instead of such missile tests.
Some analysts express clear concerns that now Trump will also build such nuclear-powered missiles that can fly at an altitude of 50 to 100 kilometers (radar-evading) and drop nuclear bombs on a target.
In short, two formidable powers are clashing head-on. The world is gasping for breath.
