President Vladimir Putin has withdrawn Russia from a key post-cold war international arms treaty, paving the way for the deployment of Russian forces closer to Europe.

The withdrawal of Russian participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty was signed into law today.

The United States, the European Union and Nato had urged Putin not to suspend the treaty, seen as a cornerstone of European security.

Russia says Nato members have not ratified an amended version of the pact and accuses it of flexing its muscles near Russia's borders.

The move comes two days ahead of parliamentary elections.

Polls show that talking tough about Russia standing up to foreigners strikes a chord with millions of Russians who yearn for the return of the Soviet Union's once-mighty superpower status.

Putin has also been sparring with the US and EU over plans for a missile defence shield in Europe, and proposed independence for Serbia's Kosovo province.

Signed in 1990 and updated in 1999, the CFE treaty limits the number of battle tanks, heavy artillery, combat aircraft and attack helicopters deployed and stored between the Atlantic and Russia's Ural mountains.

It was originally negotiated among the then-22 member states of Nato and the Warsaw Pact, and Russia says it is outdated.

Moscow argues it has been used by an enlarged Nato to limit Russian military movements while Nato builds up forces close to Russia, in contravention of earlier agreements.

Western partners have refused to ratify an amended version of the pact until Russia pulls its forces out of Georgia and Moldova, as it promised in 1999 when the treaty was reviewed.

Moscow's key problem with the treaty is flank limits which prevent Russia from moving tanks and artillery around its own territory, Russia's top generals say.

Nato has said it would be worrying to see large amounts of equipment limited by the treaty suddenly moving around.

But Russia's top general, Yuri Baluyevsky, this month said there would be no immediate movement of forces after the moratorium came into effect.