Russia Suspends Nuclear Missile Treaty With U.S.

After Washington warns of pullout, Putin formally backs out of obligations under 1987 pact

In 1987, the U.S. and Russia signed a nuclear-arms treaty banning land-based missiles capable of flying 300 to 3,400 miles. WSJ’s Shelby Holliday explains why the landmark agreement is now on the brink of collapse. Photo Illustration: Laura Kammermann

Thomas Grove

Updated March 4, 2019 1:08 p.m. ET

MOSCOW—President Vladimir Putin formally ordered a suspension of Russia’s obligations under a Cold War-era nuclear treaty with the U.S., his office said Monday, a death knell for the pact that heightens the threat of a new arms race.

The Kremlin said the decision to suspend the agreement was made after the U.S. said it would stop abiding by the pact, the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which prohibited the possession, production and flight testing of certain short and intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

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