Russia exits key nuclear agreement with US after testing Burevestnik missile, why is it a cause for worry?

Today, let’s talk about how the threat of impending nuclear conflict is increasing around the world. This fear stems from a decision taken by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which undoubtedly increased tensions with US President Donald Trump. First of all, it is important to carefully evaluate and understand this important decision of Russia.

Recently, Russia canceled an important nuclear fuel agreement with the United States. In 2000, the two countries agreed to destroy the plutonium used in making the atomic bomb. Under this agreement, both countries neutralized hundreds of nuclear weapons. A total of 34 tons of plutonium was used in these weapons. According to the agreement, this plutonium would be used in nuclear power plants that produce electricity. After Russia withdrew from the agreement, Putin is no longer obliged to destroy plutonium used in weapons production, that is, plutonium used in bombs.

Therefore, there are concerns that Russia could use this plutonium to create new nuclear weapons, or perhaps this plutonium could be used to develop another lethal weapon. No concrete answers to these questions have yet emerged, but it is very important to understand how dangerous the 34 tons of plutonium is.

According to one estimate, 34 tons of plutonium could produce 17,000 nuclear weapons. If these weapons are used, they will affect an area of ​​850,000 square kilometers of the Earth. If so many bombs were detonated at the same time, 100 major cities such as New York, Tokyo and Beijing could be destroyed. Additionally, the explosion of 17,000 nuclear weapons could kill approximately 500 million people living in major cities. And so much radiation will spread over millions of hectares that recovery will be impossible for years.

There are 34 tons of plutonium in Russia alone. The United States also has large amounts of plutonium. If the United States insists on producing thousands of atomic bombs, these dangerous weapons could certainly destroy half the world. This is a terrifying prospect, but the nuclear power currently possessed by the world’s major nations is sufficient to cause serious destruction. We will give you an account of how many nuclear weapons each country has.

Russia is also at the top of this list of nuclear weapons. Russia has 5,580 nuclear weapons. The United States ranks second with 5,044 nuclear weapons. China ranks third with 550 nuclear weapons. France ranks fourth on the nuclear weapons list with 290 weapons. Britain, which ranks fifth, has approximately 225 nuclear weapons. India has about 172 nuclear weapons, while Pakistan has about 170 nuclear weapons. This means that there are approximately 11,000 to 12,000 nuclear weapons in the world today. Therefore, Russia’s sole possession of the materials required to produce 17 thousand new weapons can be considered a serious threat.

Now you may be wondering, Putin and Trump met just two months ago, so what caused the Russian President to suddenly withdraw from the agreement? The answer lies in Trump’s ceasefire plan, which has not been implemented so far, and Trump’s disappointment with the ceasefire he expressed 48 hours ago.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s stubbornness and Putin’s harsh attitude were two reasons that pushed Trump to declare, “I will not waste my time anymore.” Whether Trump wastes his time or not, Putin remains relentless in his mission. Russia once again launched a major attack on Ukraine during the war, and this time Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, was among the targets.

When we look at Putin’s current strategy, two things become clear. On the one hand, Putin is weakening Ukraine with major attacks. On the other hand, it threatens NATO members, especially those in Eastern Europe, with cutting off strategic aid routes to Ukraine. In the October 27 issue of DNA, we showed you how Russia tested a nuclear-powered missile to increase pressure on NATO members. The American think tank, WAR STUDIES INSTITUTE, prepared an assessment of Putin’s strategy.

The top priority in this assessment is Russia’s war plan. According to the report, Russia is rapidly making major changes in its army. The fact that Russia has produced a large number of armored vehicles and tanks in the last three years signals that it will launch a major land operation against Ukraine again. If Russia starts such an operation, Ukraine may suffer serious losses. The report also states that Russia has developed a large amount of weapons capable of pinpoint shooting. With these weapons, Russia can also attack vital positions of NATO members in Eastern Europe.

Estimates show that Russia is increasing its strategic power. On the other hand, data show that Ukraine’s aid from NATO members has decreased. NATO provided 50 billion euros of strategic assistance to Ukraine in 2024. This figure drops to 35 billion euros in 2025. If things continue in this direction, Putin’s special operation will be completed.