Russia threatens to retaliate if US withdraws from weapon treaty
(VOVWORLD) - Russia wants an explanation for the US’s withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and is open to retaliation, a Russian official said on Sunday.
 Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and US National Security Adviser John Bolton in Moscow, June 27, 2018 (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
The RIA news agency quoted a Russian presidential spokesperson as saying that President Putin will raise the question to US National Security Adviser John Bolton when he visits Russia on Monday.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has called on the US to consider the consequences for Europe and future disarmament efforts if it withdraws from the INF. He said the pact is crucial to Europe’s security and its end will be detrimental to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between Russia and the US.
The INF, signed by Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and US President Ronald Reagan in 1987, bans ground-launched medium-range missiles, with a range of 500 to 5,500km.