Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed on Friday concern over the US plans to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) and called on Washington to revise its stance, the joint leaders' statement said.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 02nd November, 2018) Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed on Friday concern over the US plans to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) and called on Washington to revise its stance, the joint leaders' statement said.On Friday, Putin and Diaz held a meeting in Moscow as part of the Cuban leader's first visit to Russia.
"The leaders of Russia and Cuba expressed their deep regret and serious concern over the US plans to unilaterally withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The parties point out that the US decision could cause very negative consequences for the international system of security and arms control and call on the United States to revise its intentions to leave this treaty," the statement said.
On October 20, US President Donald Trump said the United States would withdraw from the INF, claiming that Moscow was not respecting the agreement. The Kremlin rejected the accusations, adding that Russia would be forced to take measures to ensure its security if the treaty is terminated by the United States.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on October 28 that Washington had handed over to Russia a list of complaints regarding the implementation of the accord and that Moscow was preparing its response to the US concerns. Putin said that Moscow was ready to discuss the possible US withdrawal from the INF Treaty with US partners without any "hysteria" and expressed hope that he would be able to touch upon this issue during his meeting with Trump in Paris.
