US: Russian missiles violate nuclear pact
Moscow blames Washington for ‘not listening’ over the past 15 years
WASHINGTON— The United States accused Moscow of breaching Cold War-era treaties by developing what Russian President Vladimir Putin called “invincible” hypersonic weapons and submarines.
Putin unveiled the new arsenal in a state of the nation address, blaming the United States for “escalating the arms race” over the past 15 years in an attempt to “contain Russia.”
Putin, who is a virtual shooin for reelection in about two weeks, showed an animated video of missiles striking the US eastern seaboard.
‘Listen to us now’
He quoted a speech he gave in 2004, vowing that Russia would develop a new generation of weaponry, a promise that he said he has now fulfilled.
“No one really wanted to talk to us basically. No one listened to us then. Listen to us now,” Putin said.
He presented Russia’s mili- tary efforts as a response to recent actions by the United States, which has unveiled plans to revamp its nuclear arsenal and develop new low-yield atomic weapons.
Putin said the new missiles could fly at 20 times the speed of sound and maneuver up and down, and “absolutely invincible for any forms of air and missile defense.”
Russia has also developed unmanned underwater devices that move much faster than submarines and torpedoes, and can carry nuclear warheads.
Violated INF pact
The State Department expressed outrage at Putin’s presentation and his “cheesy” animated video of warheads over US soil.
“It was certainly unfortunate to have watched the video animation that depicted a nuclear attack on the United States,” spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters.
“That’s something that we certainly didn’t enjoy watching. We don’t regard that as the behavior of a responsible international player,” she added.
‘US compliant with INF’
Naeurt said Putin confirmed the US government’s suspicion that Russia had violated the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) in developing ground-launched cruise missiles.
The United States claims that while it is modernizing its own nuclear arsenal, it remains in compliance with the terms of the Cold War accord.
The Pentagon reacted with more equanimity, with a spokesperson insisting that the US military remains “fully prepared” to react to “anything that comes our way.”