In a significant escalation of nuclear tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law formally terminating the 2000 Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement with the United States. This move ends a key Cold War-era pact aimed at reducing weapons-grade plutonium stockpiles, citing ongoing U.S. "anti-Russian" policies.
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| Russian President Vladimir Putin. © Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov |
Background on the Plutonium Disposal Agreement
Signed in September 2000 and amended in 2010, the agreement required both Russia and the U.S. to dispose of 34 metric tons each of excess military-grade plutonium—enough material to produce around 17,000 nuclear weapons. The pact was designed to repurpose these stockpiles for civilian nuclear energy, fostering bilateral trust in arms control.
Russia suspended participation in October 2016, blaming U.S. sanctions, NATO expansion, and other "hostile actions" under then-President Barack Obama. Despite expressions of willingness to revive it if grievances were addressed, relations deteriorated further with U.S. withdrawals from treaties like the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) in 2019 and Open Skies in 2020 during Donald Trump's first term.
The Recent Termination: What Happened?
The Russian State Duma passed the termination bill earlier this month, with the Federation Council approving it last Wednesday. Putin signed it into law on Monday, October 27, 2025, making it effective immediately. A accompanying note highlighted a "fundamental change in circumstances" due to intensified U.S. policies.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told lawmakers that the U.S. had attempted to alter disposal protocols, raising Moscow's fears that the radioactive materials could be recovered for military reuse.
Broader Context in Arms Control Erosion
Last month, Putin lamented the near-total dismantling of Soviet-American and Russian-American agreements on nuclear missiles and strategic defenses. Russia has pledged to adhere to New START limits—capping deployed strategic warheads at 1,550—for one year post its February 5, 2026, expiration. U.S. President Trump, now in his second term, called this a "good idea" in early October.
However, tensions persist, including Trump's recent cancellation of a planned Ukraine peace summit with Putin, labeling it a "waste of time" over stalled negotiations. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Western leaders have accused Moscow of nuclear saber-rattling, from high-alert status to lowering the nuclear use threshold in doctrine updates.
Implications for Global Nuclear Security
This termination formalizes the end of a major non-proliferation effort, potentially allowing both nations to retain plutonium for military programs. It signals deepening U.S.-Russia divides, risking further erosion of arms control frameworks amid Ukraine conflicts and renewed Trump-Putin frictions.
Experts warn it could heighten proliferation risks, complicate international nuclear diplomacy, and underscore the fragility of bilateral pacts in a multipolar world. As New START hangs by a thread, calls for renewed talks grow urgent to avert a new arms race.
The plutonium treaty's demise marks another chapter in the unraveling of post-Cold War nuclear stability. With global stakes high, stakeholders must prioritize dialogue to safeguard against escalation.