Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law halting an agreement with the United States on the disposal of weapons-grade plutonium, a move that comes amid a continuing deterioration of bilateral ties.
The law came into force on October 31, the day it was officially published by the Russian government and weeks after Putin submitted the legislation to parliament, which subsequently approved the bill.
It formally suspends Russia's participation in the agreement, signed in 2000, which commits the two countries to eliminating parts of their weapons-grade plutonium stocks.
The law sets preconditions for the restoration of the accord, including the lifting of all U.S. sanctions against Russia and compensation for the damage they have caused, as well as a reduction of U.S. military infrastructure and troops in Eastern Europe.
Washington has said the sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine will remain until implementation of the Minsk agreements aimed at ending fighting between Kyiv's forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.