RUSSIA WARNS U.S. ABOUT BACKING AWAY FROM PACT.
Moscow says U.S. treaty pullout would be ‘very dangerous step’
President Donald Trump says his intention to scrap a landmark arms control agreement Russia follows years of violations by Moscow in developing prohibited weapons, and “we’re not going to be the only one to adhere to it.” The Kremlin said the pullout “would be a very dangerous step.”
Britain said it stood “absolutely resolute” with the U.S., while Germany called Trump’s move “regrettable.”
Heiko Maas said in a statement Sunday that the three-decadesold Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is “an important pillar of our European security architecture” and Trump’s announcement “raises difficult questions for us and Europe.” The 1987 pact prohibits the United States and Russia from possessing, producing or testflying a ground-launched cruise missile with a range of 300 miles to 3,400 miles.
Maas says Germany has repeatedly urged Moscow to “clear up the serious allegations of breaching the INF treaty, which Russia has so far not done.”
He says Germany is urging Washington to “consider the possible consequences” of its decision, including for a US-Russian nuclear disarmament treaty beyond 2021.
The 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty helps protect the security of the U.S. and its allies in Europe and the Far East. It bars the United States and Russia from possessing, producing or test-flying a ground-launched cruise missile with a range of 300 miles to 3,400 miles.
“Russia has violated the agreement. They have been violating it for many years,” Trump said Saturday after a rally in Elko, Nevada. “And we’re not going to let them violate a nuclear agreement and go out and do weapons and we’re not allowed to.”
The agreement has constrained the U.S. from developing new weapons, but America will begin developing them unless Russia and China agree not to possess or develop the weapons, Trump said. China is not a party to the pact. “We’ll have to develop those weapons, unless Russia comes to us and China comes to us and they all come to us and say let’s really get smart and let’s none of us develop those weapons, but if Russia’s doing it and if China’s doing it, and we’re adhering to the agreement, that’s unacceptable,” he said.
Trump is sending his national security adviser, John Bolton, to Moscow for meetings with Russian leaders, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, and was expected to relay the news about Trump’s decision.
“This would be a very dangerous step,” Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, was quoted as telling state news agency Tass on Sunday. He said a U.S. withdrawal “will cause the most serious condemnation from all members of the international community who are committed to security and stability.”