Duma OKs suspension of key treaty

MOSCOW/WARSAW — The Russian Duma, the lower house of parliament, on Wednesday endorsed President Vladimir Putin's draft law on suspending participation in the New START treaty, The Associated News reported.

Putin announced the freeze during a speech on Tuesday in which he also accused the West of seeking to destroy Russia.

The Russian president emphasized that Moscow was not withdrawing from the pact altogether, and the Russian Foreign Ministry said the country would respect the caps on nuclear weapons set under the treaty and keep notifying the US about test launches of ballistic missiles.

A few hours after Putin's address, US President Joe Biden gave a separate speech on Tuesday, proclaiming untiring support for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the European Union is close to a 10th sanctions package against Russia for its special military operation in Ukraine and EU governments hope to reach a deal on Wednesday, EU diplomats said.

Agencies Via Xinhua