MOSCOW, 7June, 2021 (TON): A law to withdraw Moscow from the Open Skies treaty has been signed by the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Open Skies Treaty is an arms control pact with the U.S. that permitted unarmed surveillance flights over military facilities in both countries.

On Monday, the law went into effect upon publication by the Kremlin, the media reported.

Putin himself had ordered the withdrawal from Open Skies.

The military observation flights were seen as key to building confidence between Russia and the West after the Cold War.

However, the decision to abandon the pact was mutual.

The administration of former U.S. president Donald Trump announced a year ago that Washington would withdraw from Open Skies, alleging Russia had violated its terms.

The incumbent Joe Biden administration decided in May to stick to that decision.

Russia blamed the US for the end of the agreement.

Last week, Russia's upper house of parliament voted to scrap the treaty.

Moreover, Putin's signature was the last legal act to withdraw from the deal, signed in Helsinki on 24 March, 1992.