Towards a new arms race? Moscow formally withdrew on Monday from the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE). The president of Russia Vladimir Putin signed the law on the termination of the Treaty on Treaty Powers in Europe on Monday, while the related document was posted on the government’s website today, May 29.

The Treaty was signed on 19 November 1990 by the NATO countries and the member states of the Warsaw Pact. THE treaty imposed limitations in the number of conventional armaments and war armaments for the countries that signed it. Restrictions were set on tanks and armored vehicles, artillery, fighter jets and helicopters.

Russia ratified the CFE Treaty in July 1992. In July 2007, Russia suspended its entry into force, and in March 2015 it announced that it was no longer participating in the meetings of the Joint Consultative Group on the CFE Treaty.

On May 10, Putin submitted a bill to the State Duma (lower house) to denounce the treaty. Last week the State Duma voted “in favor” of the exit from the CFE Treaty, while on May 24 the law was approved by the Federation Council (upper house).

According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, the completion of the exit process from the treaty “in accordance with its provisions” will require period of six months.

It is recalled that Russia already announced in 2015 that it was indefinitely suspending its participation in the Treaty.