NATO allies condemned a decision by Russia on Tuesday to withdraw from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, a key post-Cold War agreement, and said they would suspend its operation in response."Russia has violated the letter and spirit of the Treaty by failing to implement its provisions for many years, and then by launching an unlawful, unprovoked war," Poland's MFA and MOD said in a statement released on Tuesday.
Russia formally withdrew from the security treaty, which limited key categories of conventional armed forces, blaming the United States for undermining post-Cold War security with the enlargement of the NATO military alliance.
"Allies condemn Russia's decision to withdraw from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), and its war of aggression against Ukraine which is contrary to the Treaty's objectives," NATO said in a statement.
The Russian move was its latest action that systematically undermined Euro-Atlantic security, it said.
"Therefore, as a consequence, Allied States Parties intend to suspend the operation of the CFE Treaty for as long as necessary, in accordance with their rights under international law. This is a decision fully supported by all NATO Allies."
The United States said it would suspend treaty obligations effective Dec. 7.
Russia's war against Ukraine and its withdrawal from the treaty "fundamentally altered" circumstances related to it and transformed participants' obligations, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.
Russia suspended participation in the treaty in 2007 and halted active participation in 2015.
Sullivan said that despite Moscow's continued disregard for arms control, the United States and its allies will remain committed to effective conventional arms control.
"Russia has violated the letter and spirit of the Treaty"
Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement released on Tuesday (Nov.7) that NATO members' "position was adopted in response to Russia's conduct, which contradicts international law, in particular the CFE Treaty".
"Russia has not been fulfilling its obligations under the CFE Treaty since 2007. In 2022 Russia, with the participation of Belarus, committed another act of flagrant violation of the prohibition of the use of force against Ukraine, also a state party to the CFE Treaty," the ministry said.
According to the Polish MFA, "Russia formally ceased to be a party to this agreement". Under these conditions, which represent a fundamental change of circumstances comparing to those existing at the time of the conclusion of the CFE Treaty, the Republic of Poland cannot remain obliged to fulfil this agreement.
Poland stressed it "shall take formal steps to suspend the CFE Treaty indefinitely and in its entirety, in respect to all of its provisions".
"This means that the Republic of Poland will not be legally or practically obliged to fulfil the provisions of the CFE Treaty, including those relating to limitations for the Polish Armed Forces. Poland has been fulfilling its obligations under the CFE Treaty since 1992, when this agreement came into force, being at that time an important part of the security architecture in Europe," we read.
"Russia has violated the letter and spirit of the Treaty by failing to implement its provisions for many years, and then by launching an unlawful, unprovoked war," the MFA underscored.
"In this situation, the security interest of the Republic of Poland requires further strengthening of defence and deterrence capabilities through consistent national and allied efforts. At the same time, Poland does not exclude taking further legal steps in the future, including the denunciation of the CFE Treaty due to the denunciation of the CFE Treaty by Russia, shall the security interests of the Republic of Poland require it."
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters, Polish MFA