Russia Withdraws from Plutonium Management Agreement with United States

The Government of Russia formally withdrew from the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA) on October 8, 2025, following a vote by the State Duma. The treaty, signed in 2000 and active since 2011, mandated that both Russia and the United States dispose of at least 34 tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium each to reduce nuclear proliferation risks.

Russia justified the termination by claiming the United States took anti-Russian steps that fundamentally changed the strategic balance and created threats to stability. This move follows a 2016 suspension of the agreement, during which Russia cited U.S. sanctions, NATO expansion, and allegations that the U.S. violated the pact by diluting plutonium without receiving Russian approval.

The PMDA was intended to secure Cold War stockpiles by converting plutonium into safer forms, such as mixed oxide fuel. The complete withdrawal marks the end of the joint effort to manage these specific hazardous nuclear materials.