Russian Nuclear Weapons: Past, Present, and Future - Strategic ...

62. See Amy F. Woolf, “Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty Demarcation
and Succession Agreements: Background and Issues,” CRS
Report to Congress, April 27, 2000, available from www.cnie.org/nle/
crsreports/international/inter-68.cfm.
63. Putin’s short statement in response to the American withdrawal
announcement made the following points: “The U.S. has
the legitimate right to abandon the Treaty in accordance with its
provisions; though an American ‘mistake’ the withdrawal decision
does not create immediate threats to Russian security; abandonment
of the ABM Treaty leads to the emergence of a legal
vacuum in the elaborate system of agreements in the sphere of
disarmament and the nonproliferation; that ‘vacuum’ should be
filled up by rapid elaboration of a ‘new framework’ of strategic
mutual relations; under that ‘framework’ considerable reductions
of offensive weapons should take place (preferably to the level of
1,500-2,200 warheads for each side).” See Vadim Markushin, “Bad
News for the World Community,” Krasnaya Zvezda, December 15,
2001, in Russian.
64. Menshikov.
65. “Russian Reaction to NATO’s Enlargement,” Analitik,
March 4, 2004, in Russian, available from analitik.org.ua/ukr/current-comment/ext/407412da4f691/pagedoc1095_25/.
66. “The SOR Treaty calls for the reduction of the strategic nuclear
warheads of both Russia and the United States by the end of
2012 to 1,700-2,200, i.e., approximately by three times compared
to the level provided by the START 1 Treaty. START 1 itself is
to remain in force until December 5, 2009, and may then be extended.
The SOR Treaty ensures continuity in disarmament and
arms control in the conditions when the ABM Treaty has ceased
to be operative, the question of the entry of the START II Treaty
into force has fallen away, and other disarmament agreements
are undergoing serious trials. The new Treaty was called upon
to assist substantially the strengthening of the nonproliferation
regime as well.” See “Statement by Alexander Konuzin, Deputy
Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, at the
Session of the UN Commission on Disarmament Held on April 1,
2003.” SORT was ratified by the Duma on May 14, 2003 by votes
of 294 deputies with 134 voting against and none abstaining.
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