Putin signs decree suspending Russia's participation in INF Treaty

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree suspending the country's compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with immediate effect, the Kremlin said Monday.

Putin ordered to suspend the implementation of the treaty "until the United States eliminates the violations of obligations under the treaty or until its expiration," the text of the decree shows.

The decree instructs the Russian Foreign Ministry to inform the United States about Russia's suspension of the treaty.

Last month, Putin said that Russia would follow the example of the United States and withdraw from the nuclear arms control deal within six months.

The US administration has announced that the country is withdrawing from the INF Treaty in six months, starting from Feb 2.