05.08.2019. Termination of the INF Treaty - Highlights in Russia
Highlights in Russia
05.08.2019. Termination of the INF Treaty
On August 2, 2019, six months after Washington initiated the withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed by the USSR and the US in 1987, the INF Treaty was terminated.
Below are key points from the Statements by the President of the Russian Federation V.Putin of August 5, 2019 and extracts from other Russian top officials’ declarations and speeches featuring the position of the Russian Federation on that issue.
As of August 2, 2019 the INF Treaty, a key document for establishing the regional and global security architecture, no longer exists, the USA sent it to the archives, making it a thing of the past.
Washington’s unilateral withdrawal has dealt a great blow to the arms control system, which took decades to build. Far-reaching negative consequences for the entire architecture of global security and strategic stability are inevitable.
Russia’s efforts to save the INF Treaty were ignored or turned down by Washington. Unfortunately, the US’s true goal was not to keep the INF Treaty but to get rid of the bans and restrictions on the buildup of the US missile potential. The US was purposefully working to untie its hands so that it can use an unlimited range of military tools to exert military pressure on any rival or opponent in the world.
This scenario could signal a new start for an unfettered arms race.
Washington began to undermine the INF Treaty long ago and has finally destroyed it. It is obvious that the US is trying to do away with all the international agreements that do not suit it in some way. The collapse of the INF Treaty, which is similar to the US’s withdrawal from the ABM Treaty in 2002 on the scale of destructive consequences, means that Washington’s dismantling of the existing nuclear missile control system is speeding up. This dangerous trend is accompanied by US officials’ statements on their readiness to build up nuclear armaments.
Russia considers that it is necessary to revive without delay meaningful talks on ensuring strategic stability and security and is ready to engage in these efforts.
Russia remains open to equitable and constructive dialogue with the United States on the INF Treaty and other issues related to the strategic security based on mutual trust and consideration of each other’s interests. Russia hopes that the United States adopt a responsible approach to this matter. The Russian-US consultations on arms control with an emphasis on nuclear missiles that resumed in Geneva on July 17 must continue.
More on the topic:
[05-08-2019] Statement by the President of Russia on the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles.
[05.08.2019] Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov’s opening remarks at the briefing on the termination of the INF Treaty.
[02.08.2019] Foreign Ministry statement on the withdrawal of the United States from the INF Treaty and its termination.
[05.05.2019] Comment by the Information and Press Department on the US Report on Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Non-Proliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments.
[20.03.2019] Statement by H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation at the Plenary Session of the Conference on Disarmament, Geneva.
[11.02.2019] Press release on the INF Treaty.
[02.02.2019] Foreign Ministry statement.
[18.01.2019] Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions during a joint news conference following talks with Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas, Moscow.
[24.12.2018] Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with the international news agency Rossiya Segodnya.
[26.11.2018] Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov’s briefing on developments involving the INF Treaty, Moscow.
