Russia to withdraw from Open Skies Treaty on December 18

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that the country has informed all member states that it will withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty on December 18, according to Russian news agency Sputnik.

"Russia has notified all participating states of its decision to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty six months after the notification was sent. Thus, this will happen on December 18," the ministry said in a statement.

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

A Russian Air Force Tu-214 flies over Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., April 26, 2019. /AP

The treaty, which became effective in 2002, allows state parties to conduct short-notice, unarmed reconnaissance flights over the others' entire territories 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 denied all accusations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law

that formalizes the country's exit from the treaty earlier this month after both houses of the Russian parliament approved a bill

on the denunciation of it.