Putin vows to match U.S. intermediate-range missiles

MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that Russia will respond in kind if the United States decides to develop new intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

The chief of staff of Russia’s military, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, echoed those remarks, saying that any European countries where the United States stationed intermediate-range missiles, such as Poland or Romania, would be the first targets in the event of a conflict.

The United States has long accused Russia of developing such missiles in violation of the IntermediateRange Nuclear Forces Treaty, which limits groundbased intermediate-range missiles. On Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States would within 60 days start the formal process of abandoning the treaty unless Russia reestablished compliance with its terms.

In the 1987 pact, widely known as the INF Treaty, Russia and the United States agreed to eliminate all ground-based nuclear and conventional missiles, as well as their launchers, with ranges of 310 to 3,420 miles. It does not ban intermediate-range missiles launched from bombers or from the sea.

In recent years, both sides have had reason to rethink their commitment. Russia has grown uneasy as many countries along its extensive southern border, including China, India, Pakistan and Iran, began developing such weapons. None of them are signatories to the treaty.

The United States and its NATO allies have said Washington has abided by the treaty, while Russia violated it by developing and deploying a cruise missile system.

Yet the Defense Department has grown concerned about the need for intermediate-range missiles to counter a growing threat from China over its militarization of the South China Sea.

Putin accused Washington of deciding to leave the treaty and justifying its action by blaming Russia. Gerasimov, addressing foreign military attachés stationed in Moscow, said the United States had already violated the treaty by deploying in Romania and Poland missile defense components that can to fire intermediaterange missiles.