Nuclear arms treaty faces collapse after failed US-Russia talks

— The survival of a key nuclear arms control treaty was cast further in doubt Tuesday after the U.S. and Russia blamed each other for pushing the agreement to the brink of collapse.

Senior diplomats from both countries met in Geneva amid widespread concern over the fate of the bilateral Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which successfully put an end to a mini-arms race after it was signed in 1987. U.S. President Donald Trump said in October that his country would pull out of the deal unless Russia stops violating it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to develop nuclear missiles banned under the treaty if it is scrapped. “The meeting was disappointing as it is clear Russia continues to be in material breach of the Treaty and did not come prepared to explain how it plans to return to full and verifiable compliance,” U.S. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Andrea Thompson, said in a statement.

“Our message was clear: Russia must destroy its noncompliant missile system,” she said.

Thompson will be in Brussels on Wednesday, where she plans to brief NATO allies on the INF talks.

Russia hosted the negotiations at its mission in Geneva and Moscow’s delegation was led by deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov.