Nato concerned at Russia treaty pull-out

Nato said yesterday it was very concerned at Russia's decision to suspend participation in a landmark treaty limiting armed forces in post-Cold War Europe amid growing tension over a US missile shield. President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Friday...

Nato said yesterday it was very concerned at Russia's decision to suspend participation in a landmark treaty limiting armed forces in post-Cold War Europe amid growing tension over a US missile shield.

President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Friday suspending participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe pact from mid-December in apparent retaliation for plans to deploy parts of a US interceptor system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Eduard Shevardnadze, who as Soviet foreign minister helped to seal the 1990 CFE pact, called Mr Putin's move the first step towards a new Cold War. But a Russian military source insisted Moscow had no plans for any large-scale westward deployment after it quits the treaty.

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