Biden Criticizes Putin’s Decision to Suspend U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Control Treaty as a “Big Mistake

President Joe Biden has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to suspend his country’s participation in the last remaining U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control treaty.

The New START treaty, which was signed in 2010, is the last remaining nuclear arms control pact between the U.S. and the Kremlin. Putin announced Russia’s suspension of the treaty during his state of the nation address Tuesday, raising tensions between the two countries.

Biden, who is currently in Warsaw, Poland, to meet with Eastern European NATO allies, was asked for his reaction to the decision and said it was a “big mistake.” Putin also said Russia should be prepared to resume nuclear weapons tests if the U.S. did so first.

The decision to suspend Russian cooperation with the treaty’s nuclear warhead and missile inspections follows Moscow’s cancellation late last year of talks that had been intended to salvage an agreement that both sides have accused the other of violating.

The U.S. and Russia have been at odds over a number of issues in recent years, including the war in Ukraine and the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The suspension of the New START treaty is the latest in a series of escalations between the two countries.