Federation Council Denounces 2000 U.S.–Russia Plutonium Disposition Pact

Overview

• Russia's upper house voted on October 22 to terminate the intergovernmental agreement on disposing of plutonium no longer needed for defense purposes.
• The decision also cancels all related protocols governing financing, liability and the method of disposal through irradiation in nuclear reactors.
• The 2000 pact obligated each side to dispose of 34 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium declared excess to military programs.
• Russian documents note the pact was suspended in 2016 and cite U.S. sanctions, a U.S. law on support for Ukraine, NATO expansion, increased U.S. military presence in Eastern Europe, and an alleged unilateral change to disposal procedures as reasons.
• At the same session, senators considered ratifying an extradition treaty with Kuwait and heard a scheduled address by Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, alongside a bill on medical use of controlled substances aboard ships and aircraft.