UK minister backs Trump move to exit nuclear pact

Britain’s defense secretary says the U.K. stands “absolutely resolute” with the United States as President Donald Trump announced he will pull out from a landmark arms control agreement with Russia. Gavin Williamson blamed Russia for endangering the arm control pact, agreed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in 1987, and called on the Kremlin to “get its house in order.” Trump said he will exit the pact because Russia has violated it “for many years” and it’s preventing the U.S. from developing new weapons. Backing Trump, Williamson told the Financial Times on yesterday that Moscow had made a “mockery” of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The 1987 pact prohibits the United States and Russia from possessing, producing or test-flying a ground-launched cruise missile with a range of 300 to 3,400 miles.

Vote in Poland tests support for ruling conservatives

Polish voters were casting ballots in local elections yesterday that were the first nationwide test of support for the conservative ruling party, whose policies have produced street protests and repeated clashes with European Union leaders. The election is for offices from city mayors to village councilors. The ruling right-wing Law and Justice party is hoping to strengthen its firm grip on power, which has been buoyed by handing out social benefits and questioning how much authority the EU should have over member nations. EU leaders say changes the ruling party has made to Poland’s judiciary threaten the rule of law in the country and have triggered a sanctioning procedure.