Moscow: US Exit From Nuclear Arms Treaty with Russia ‘Very Dangerous Step’

If the US continues to withdraw unilaterally from agreements, then Russia will adopt a range of retaliatory measures, including military ones, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

“We are treating with concern and condemnation the United States’ new attempts to force Russia to make concessions in the sphere of international security and strategic stability via blackmailing. The Russian side has repeatedly said that the US side has no reasons for accusing Russia of allegedly violating this treaty. After all these years, they have failed to substantiate their fanciful claims by clear explanations why they are doing this,” Ryabkov told Sputnik.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced the country’s plans to exit the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) treaty over alleged Russian violations of the agreement.

Ryabkov said that the US accusations toward Russia regarding the INF treaty seem to be aimed at concealing its own violations of the treaty.

He added that the US has no reason to say that Russia is violating the INF treaty, and that all of the accusations were unsubstantiated.

Russia will continue to insist on dialogue with the US on resolving issues with the INF treaty, Ryabkov stressed.

According to him, Moscow condemns Washington’s recent attempts to persuade Russia to make concessions which would threaten its strategic stability.

In May, President Trump issued a memorandum ordering State Secretary Mike Pompeo to propose sanctions on Russia in response to alleged violations of the INF Treaty. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the matter, said that Russia had never violated the INF Treaty, and that it adheres to its obligations and intends to continue doing so.

Earlier, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that Russia’s 9M729 missiles comply with the country’s obligations under the INF Treaty and have not been upgraded or tested for the prohibited range.