Russia has withdrawn from a key cold war treaty limiting the number of troops and weapons in Europe. The Conventional Forces in Europe treaty was suspended on Tuesday at 2100 GMT.

This means Russian troops can now move around the country without notifying NATO.

NATO members deeply regret this decision.

According to Russia foreign ministry such step was caused by the exceptional circumstances connected to the content of the treaty which concern the security of Russia and demands immediate measures .

CFE was signed in 1990 and modified in 1999 and placed precise limits on the stationing of troops and heavy weapons from the Atlantic coast to Russia's Ural mountains. In theory Russia can return to the treaty but analyst say it not likely.

Russia's complaints regarding CFE is NATO's failure to ratify the modified 1999 treaty which takes into account the major changes brought by the collapse of the soviet union.