Lavrov assessed the impact of the US withdrawal from the INF Treaty at the risk of a nuclear conflict
The US decision to withdraw from the Treaty on intermediate and shorter-range missiles (INF Treaty) dramatically increases the risk of a nuclear conflict, said the Minister of foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov. His words leads to “Interfax”.
“We are committed to the arms race that characterized the cold war era, it is the President (Vladimir Putin) said very clearly,” — said Lavrov. However, Russia will respond to threats related to the U.S. withdrawal from the Treaty, the military-technical means.
At the same time, according to Lavrov, “of a new cold war is out of question”.
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Russia will respond to the U.S. withdrawal from the INF Treaty by developing new missiles
Earlier, Putin said that Russia suspends its participation in the agreement as a mirrored response to a similar US decision. He asked Lavrov and Russian defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to initiate negotiations on this topic in the future. “Wait until our partners are ready to lead with us on equal and meaningful dialogue on this important topic — for us and for our partners, and for the whole world”, — explained Putin.
The Russian President stressed that Moscow is preparing a response to the U.S. withdrawal from the INF Treaty, should not and will not be involved in her costly arms race.
The U.S. state Department, in turn, announced that Washington was suspending participation in the INF Treaty, and six months — will be released from the Treaty if Russia will not return to its respect. U.S. Secretary of state Michael Pompeo stressed that Russia must destroy all of 9М729 missiles, their launchers and associated equipment.
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What you need to know about the Treaty of elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range
History, essence and the importance of the Treaty — in the material “Kommersant”.
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