Russia remains open to talks with the United States on the elimination of medium and shorter-range missiles under the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), a diplomat in charge of nonproliferation said Tuesday.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 25th September, 2018) Russia remains open to talks with the United States on the elimination of medium and shorter-range missiles under the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), a diplomat in charge of nonproliferation said Tuesday.
"Russia's stance is that of absolute openness, transparency and clarity," Vladimir Yermakov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's nonproliferation and arms control department, said during a press conference at Rossiya Segodnya, an international news agency.
He added Russia was "ready to discuss any issues concerning the treaty with our American partners in any format," and suggested that the United States felt the same.
The Soviet Union and the United States signed the INF treaty in 1987. It required the parties to destroy ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 311 miles to 3,317 miles.
The two powers have repeatedly accused each other of violations. US President Donald Trump signed a massive $716-billion defense spending bill in August, explaining the hike by Russia's alleged noncompliance. Moscow rejected the claim and blamed Washington for sending ground-based weapons to Japan.
