The spokesperson also recalled that in its
statement after the Brussels summit, NATO voiced concerns over Russia’s
9M729 missile system
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has laid responsibility on Russia
for the US decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear
Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), noting that Moscow 'highly likely' violates
this agreement, NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu said on Sunday.
"NATO Allies have repeatedly raised their concerns about Russia's lack
of respect for its international commitments, including for the
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which was concluded in 1987
between the United States and the Soviet Union. At the NATO Summit in
July [in Brussels], Allies stressed that the United States is in
compliance with its obligations under the INF Treaty, while a pattern of
behavior over many years has led to widespread doubts about Russian
compliance," Lungescu said.
The spokesperson also recalled that in its statement after the Brussels
summit, NATO voiced concerns over Russia’s 9M729 missile system. "After
years of denials and obfuscation, Russia recently acknowledged the
existence of the missile system without providing the necessary
transparency and explanation. In the absence of any credible answer from
Russia on this new missile, Allies believe that the most plausible
assessment would be that Russia is in violation of the INF Treaty," she
said.
The alliance continues consultations on this issue, which was discussed
at the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in October. The sides noted there
that "allies have made efforts over many years to engage Russia on this
issue, in bilateral and multilateral formats."
Since 2014, NATO has halted its political dialogue with Russia and the
NATO-Russia Council, which used to meet once or twice per month, has
held fewer than 10 meetings over the past four years.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said that Washington would
withdraw from the INF Treaty because Russia was violating the terms of
the agreement. At the same time, he did not rule out signing a new
agreement on intermediate-range nuclear forces with Moscow and Beijing
if Russia and China provide guarantees of halting the production of such
weapons.
According to the US data, which was shared with NATO allies, Russia
allegedly started deploying its newest missiles 9M729, what Washington
claims is a violation of the 1987 treaty. Russian Foreign Ministry
Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the US accusations that the 9M729 range
exceeds the limits stipulated by the treaty have not been proven.
The INF Treaty was signed between the Soviet Union and the United States
on December 8, 1987 in Washington, DC. The US accused Russia of
violating the agreement for the first time in July 2014. Later,
Washington repeated the claims on many occasions, while Moscow rejected
them, also accusing the US of developing missiles, which are tested at a
range prohibited by the treaty and deploying missile defense elements,
which may be used for launching short- and intermediate-range missiles.
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