Russia's Federation Council passes bill on INF Treaty suspension

The upper house of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council, passed at its session a bill suspending Russia's compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).

The bill will be now submitted to Russian President Vladimir Putin so that he could sign it into law.

Speaker of the upper house Valentina Matviyenko said that Russia is urged to suspend its compliance with the treaty responding to a similar step by the United States, Sputnik reported.

The United States formally suspended its obligations under the INF Treaty on February 2, over alleged violations by Russia, and triggered a six-month withdrawal process. Russia denied the accusations, saying that it was Washington that breached the deal. Putin signed on 4 March a decree on suspension of Russia's participation in the INF Treaty.