nuclear weapons

Moreover, when the Cold War was considered to be over, important agreements (START I) in the field of disarmament and nonproliferation between Russia the U.S. and START IIon further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms were signed by the presidents of Russia and the United States in 1991 and 1993 respectively. The sidesagreed thatthe latter treaty enter into force as soon as Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan have ratified the START I treaty and join the Nonproliferation Treaty as non-nuclear states. START II agreement provided for the reduction of nuclear warheads on strategic delivery missiles by 50% compared with their number defined by the START I Treaty. In 2010, the Start III Treaty between the United States and Russia on further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms was signed by the presidents of said countries, which entered into force in 2011.However, we should not deceive ourselves that the end of the Cold War made the threat untenable. In some respects, the situation is even more dangerous. There are nuclear powers, such as Pakistan and India, both having over a hundred warheads, who are reluctant to play nicely with one another. Also at present, the cooperation between the United States and the Russian Federation on missile defense is suspended due to the worsening of relations amidst the Ukrainian crisis. In particular, in 2014 in connection with the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, the situation surrounding the reunification of the Crimea with Russia, and the aggravation of relations between Moscow and Washington on the background of anti-Russian sanctions, the Lower House of the Russian Parliament (Duma) suggested to unilaterally terminate the Start III agreement. Earlier Russia had repeatedly demanded “legally binding” guarantees from Washington to ensure that the U.S. tactical nuclear weapons are not aimed at Russian strategic ballistic systems.According to some nuclear war analysts, a war involving nuclear weapons is inevitable. Even if the risk is just half a percent per year, that would mean a five percent chance of nuclear war each decade. Given sufficient time, even a small possibility becomes a certainty. The only way to prevent such a war would be worldwide disarmament, i.e. the consistent observing of the above-mentioned treaties and agreements. However, unfortunately, this is something that is very difficult to foresee happening any time soon.LiteratureBikini Atoll nuclear test site, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1339 (retrieved on October 7th)Friedman G. Debating the morality of Hiroshima. Geopolitical weekly, August 11, 2015, https://www.stratfor.com/weekly/debating-morality-hiroshima (retrieved on October 7th)Kate Hudson, 2005, CND, Now More Than Ever, The Story of a Peace Movement, Vision PaperbacksKing G. Going nuclear over the Pacific. Smithsonian.com August 15, 2012, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/going-nuclear-over-the-pacific-24428997/?no-ist (retrieved on October 7th)Neutron bomb: Why ‘clean’ is deadly. Sci/Tech, July 15, 1999, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/395689.stm (retrieved on October 7th)Obama offers a START-3. Russia is interested (Rus.) (4 February 2009). Retrieved on September 1, 2009. Archived from the original source August 14, 2011Project A119: The U.S. plan to blow up the Moon. November 26th, 2012, http://beforeitsnews.com/space/2012/11/project-a119-the-u-s-plan-to-blow-up-the-moon-2449996.html (retrieved on October 7th)START-3 came into force (Rus.) (5 February 2011). Retrieved February 8, 2011. Archived from the original source August 14, 2011Treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water, http://www.state.gov/t/isn/4797.htm (retrieved on October 7th)US accused of using neutron bombs. Aljazeera, April 9th, 2007, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2007/04/200852514126899448.html (retrieved on October 7th)US refuses to give guarantees to Russia on missile defense in Europe. Military & Intelligence, June 25th , 2015, http://sputniknews.com/military/20150625/1023851588.html (retrieved on October 7th)