NATO accuses Russia of violating nuclear treaty [VIDEO]
Russia has a new type of missile that threatens Europe — in violation of a signature arms treaty — and NATO wants an immediate explanation, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday.
“We remain concerned about Russia’s lack of respect for its international commitments including the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty,” Stoltenberg stated.
Speaking at a news conference ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers, Stoltenberg bluntly accused Russia of violating the 1987 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, which banned an entire class of missiles that could be used by Russia to strike targets in Europe.
Stoltenberg said that the United States “has determined that Russia is in violation because, according to the US, Russia has started to deploy that missile.”
“Russia has not provided any credible answers on this new missile” he added.
The 1987 INF accord banned all missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometers, essentially offering a protective blanket to the European continent. It also banned American-made Pershing cruise missiles, which had been deployed by the U.S. and Germany and which Russia regarded as a severe threat.
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