Putin signs law on Russian withdrawal from Open Skies treaty

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, on March 31, 2021. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Monday that formalizes Russia’s exit from the Open Skies treaty, a pact that allows unarmed surveillance flights over member countries.

Russia has said a U.S. decision not to rejoin the Open Skies pact was is a “political mistake” as Moscow and Washington prepare for a summit between the countries’ presidents later this month.