Because of the United States participation in the Ukrainian War, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will be suspending the nuclear arms deal made between Russia(former Soviet Union) and the US.

During a state of the nation address on Tuesday morning, Putin targeted the West’s financial support of the war in Ukraine, and will no longer participate in the reaffirmed START treaty. This treaty was signed in 1991 with the goal to limit nuclear and other mass destruction weapons, and was recently signed in 2021 to continue until 2026.

“In this regard, I am forced to announce today that Russia is suspending its participation in the strategic offensive arms treaty,” Putin said.

The Russian president made it clear though, that Moscow is only suspending participation in this treaty, not withdrawing entirely.

Russia’s goals have been clear from the start, they base their actions on Western involvement, first with the action of invading Ukraine and now with suspending this agreement.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s Secretary-General, urged Moscow to reconsider this decision in a press conference, along with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Burrell.

‘It is President Putin who started this imperial war of conquest,” Stoltenberg said. “As Putin made clear today, he’s preparing for more war. It would be dangerous for our own security and the whole world.”

Under the START treaty, Russia and the US were allowed to inspect each other’s nuclear weapons facilities, however this has not happened yet, partially because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also because of Russia’s refusal to comply.

“Russia’s refusal to facilitate inspection activities prevents the United States from exercising important rights under the treaty and threatens the viability of US-Russian nuclear arms control,” a spokesperson said.

During the nation address, the Russian president accused the US and other western countries of starting the war.

“They started it,” he said. “The people of Ukraine themselves have become hostages of the Kyiv regime and its Western masters, who have actually occupied this country in a political, military, and economic sense.”

The address occured one day after United States Joe Biden made a surprise trip to Ukraine, pledging another $500 million investment to aid in this war in support of Ukraine, while also announcing new sanctions on Russia.

“One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine Stands,” Biden said. “Democracy stands.”

Biden also spoke about the US’s “unwavering support” for the country saying, “It was important that the President of the United States be here the day that the attack began.”

“I thought it was critical that there not be any doubt,none whatsoever, about US support for Ukraine in the war,” the US President said.

The half a billion dollars Biden pledged will go towards more equipment, such as artillery ammunition.

Along with the trip to Ukraine, Biden traveled to Poland to hold talks with European allies for continued support in the war.