Russia's lower house of parliament voted unanimously today to suspend a key arms treaty limiting conventional forces in Europe.
The Duma (lower house) approved 418-0 a law allowing Russia to stop complying with the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty.
The move will take effect on December 12th, after final approval by the upper house of parliament and President Vladimir Putin.
"Russia cannot be blamed for the dismantling of the CFE treaty, if such a thing happens," Russian armed forces chief of staff Yury Baluyevsky said at the Duma, Interfax reported.
"It would not be an irreparable loss for our country but as regards the European states, this will be a significant and sensitive loss for them."
Mr Putin gave formal notice in July that Russia would suspend participation in the treaty - considered a cornerstone of European security by the West.
The pact limits the number of tanks, heavy artillery and combat aircraft which can be deployed and stored between the Atlantic and the Ural mountains.
Russia believes the treaty is outdated and unfairly penalises its military. It wants Western powers to ratify an updated version of the pact, something they have refused to do until Moscow completes a promised pullout of troops from former Soviet Georgia and Moldova.
The law approved by the Duma gives Mr Putin a free hand to suspend Russia's participation in the treaty or to restore it at any time in the future.
Russian officials have stressed that a final decision on suspending the CFE treaty has not yet been taken. It will depend, among other issues, on whether the US presses ahead with plans to station part of a missile defence shield in eastern Europe.
Germany and France urged Russia last month to reconsider its plans to suspend the treaty, saying the move risked sparking new arms races and creating new conflicts.