Russia refuses to destroy controversial 9M729 missiles
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Russia will not destroy systems with the 9M729 missile as requested by the United States, reports RIA Novosti.
Washington blames Moscow for violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) by testing the 9M729 missile. The United States demanded that Russia destroy the missiles within six months and threatened to withdraw from the INF Treaty if this does not happen.
“We cannot agree to destroy complexes with our missile,” stated representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Kremlin called the United States accusations regarding testing 9M729 missiles range, which violates the Treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles groundless, and the ultimatum “unacceptable in both form and substance”. It also accused the U.S. of rejecting “the very idea of reciprocity” in the matter of claims settlement.
"The proposals for the settlement remain in force, but we will not knock on the closed door," added the Russian Ministry.