December 18, 2021 - 12:42 AMT
Russia officialy withdraws from Open Skies Treaty

Russia on Saturday, December 18 officially withdrew from the Treaty on Open Skies, CGTN reports local media.

On June 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law to quit the Treaty on Open Skies. Russia notified all related parties of its pullout on June 18 and the decision came into force six months later.

The treaty, which became effective in 2002, allows state parties to conduct short-notice, unarmed reconnaissance flights over the territories under the sovereignty of other signatories to collect data on military forces and activities as a way to build confidence and familiarity.

Washington officially announced its withdrawal from the accord in November 2020 under then U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing Moscow of "violating" its clauses. Moscow has denied all accusations.

Russia has stressed that the United States is responsible for the collapse of the treaty.