U.S. ready to resort to military solutions to create a system of medium-range missiles in the event of a violation by Russia of the Treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range nuclear forces (INF). This was the Deputy Secretary of state Thomas Shannon told the newspaper “Kommersant”.
“Although we remain committed to a diplomatic resolution of the question of violations by Russia of the provisions of the Treaty, the US is also beginning to explore possible military solutions to create a system of medium-range missiles, ground-based,” said Shannon.
He noted that in the case of non-compliance by Russia of the provisions of the INF Treaty and its termination in the result of admitted violations by Russia, these missiles will protect the US and its allies, as well as offset the military superiority of Russia, which Moscow is seeking through the establishment of proscribed missiles, said Shannon.
“As you know the government of the Russian Federation, the Treaty does not prohibit research that do not lead to possession, manufacture and flight tests of proscribed systems,” he said.
“We are ready to stop this kind of systems development is prohibited by the INF Treaty if Russia will return to full and verifiable compliance with its obligations under the INF Treaty,” assured Shannon.
The INF Treaty, bearing in perpetuity, signed in 1987 in Washington. The agreement prohibits countries from possessing ballistic missiles, land-based and cruise missiles with a range of from 500 to 5.5 thousand kilometers.