Relations deteriorating as Russia halts US plutonium agreement
Russia has ordered a halt to the bilateral Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PDMA) with the US due to Washington's "hostile actions" and failure to keep to the terms of the deal, according to a Russian government's official document. Under the US-Russian PMDA, signed in 2000, both nations agreed to dispose of at least 34 metric tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium, enough to produce 17,000 nuclear bombs. This comes as the Syrian conflict brings Russia and the US to the brink of a diplomatic crisis, with some analysts warning the crisis is worse than anything during the Cold War.
"In Soviet times, there was a clear division of interests, and a number of areas where our competition with the Americans was limited," Ermakov recalled. "Now, ideological delimitations no longer exist, and there are many areas where our interests [theoretically] intersect. Nevertheless, Moscow and Washington have continued to hold fundamentally different positions."

"For example, both Russia and the US pay lip service to fighting a war on international terrorism. But in practice, the two sides demonstrate diametrical approaches to the problem, and this is strikingly illustrated by the situation in Syria."

"Therefore," the analyst suggested, "the scenarios for proxy conflicts with the US can take severe and dramatic turns – that much was confirmed by Kirby's remarks. Washington did not allow itself to make such frank statements even during the Cold War. Factually, behind Kirby's words is a direct threat."

Ermakov stressed that "it's clear that Russia's response to this threat will consist of holding to our position in Syria, whatever the US may be willing to stoop to."

According to the expert, US efforts to undermine Russia may include using 'moderate opposition' forces to strike the Russian contingent, supplying militants with advanced weapons, coordinating their activities and sharing intelligence information. This scenario could result in Russian aircraft may be shot down.

"In fact, this was the same thing the US did in Afghanistan; really the subtext of Kirby's statement was exactly that – a threat to move the Afghan scenario to Syrian soil. In Afghanistan, we can recall, the Mujahedeen also transitioned from using ancient Enfield rifles to modern weapons, after the US revised its strategy."