Putin: Russia will respond if US withdraws from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the United States withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), promising that this move by Washington will not remain unanswered by Moscow, TASS reports.
“Today I propose to discuss our steps related to the possible United States withdrawal from the medium and shorter missiles treaty. The United States decision to withdraw from this treaty, of course, cannot remain and will not remain unanswered on our part,” said Putin.
The Russian President added that Kremlin is ready "to conduct a dialogue on this key issue with the American partners."
"We hope that they (the United States) will react to this with full responsibility," said Putin. He reminded that "when the United States unilaterally withdrew from the anti-missile defense treaty, we openly and honestly declared that we would be forced to retaliate."
“This has been done. Now Russia has a hypersonic weapon capable of overcoming any missile defense system,” added Putin.
In addition, Putin spoke about a worsening situation in the world, in particular, on the Korean Peninsula, in Ukraine and in the Middle East.
“Despite the agreements reached in Minsk, the armed confrontation in the south-east of Ukraine continues. Year after year the NATO bloc continues to increase its military potential near our borders, and the future of the fundamental agreements in the field of arms control is uncertain,” added the Russian president.
On Sunday, October 21, during his speech in front of his supporters in Nevada, Trump announced that he wants to leave the INF Treaty. “We will not allow anyone to violate the terms of this agreement,” he said. Russia and the United States periodically accuse each other of violating this agreement.
In response to Trump’s words, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow is ready to respond to Trump’s threat of withdrawing from the agreement. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov explained that Russia is prepared to respond if Washington continues to withdraw from agreements and arrangements unilaterally. He added that measures against the U.S. could be "of a military-technical nature."