short summary, only critical info: WARSAW — Tensions between the United States and Russia escalated on Wednesday following Russia's announcement that it was suspending participation in a key nuclear arms agreement— days after the treaty was used to warn the U.S. about an intercontinental ballistic missile test, according to NAME_1 administration sources. Russian President NAME_2 said on Tuesday he intends to suspend the New START arms treaty, which limits both countries’ abilities to produce and launch nuclear weapons, in a speech timed with President NAME_3's trip to Ukraine and other Eastern European allies this week. On Wednesday the rhetoric out of Moscow escalated. NAME_4, a former Russian president, said the decision to leave the treaty was "overdue," warning the U.S. that Russia would reserve the right to use its nuclear arsenal — even if it means world war. “If the United States wants to defeat Russia, then we have the right to defend ourselves with any weapons, including nuclear weapons,” he said on his Telegram channel Wednesday. The White House quickly criticized NAME_5's comments. “As the President made clear last night, our focus remains on helping Ukraine defend its sovereignty from an unprovoked Russian invasion. Russia is the only aggressor here. And Russian rhetoric around the potential use of nuclear weapons remains as unwarranted as it is irresponsible,” a White House spokesperson said in a statement. The lower house of the Russian Parliament, the Duma, rubber-stamped the move in a unanimous vote on Wednesday, Russian state news agency Tass reported. The back and forth came after reports about Russia testing a missile before NAME_1 traveled to Ukraine. A U.S. official and a NAME_1 administration official confirmed to NBC News that Russia informed the U.S. of its intention to test a ballistic missile, as per the terms of the START treaty. The officials would not confirm the timing of the test but said it wasn’t designed to coincide with NAME_1’s Kyiv visit. The administration official says these tests are routine and the Russians used the notification process in START to let the U.S. know — underscoring how the treaty remains part of the communication system between the two nations.  Make sure to only use capital letters in your entire response.
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