German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday she would continue talks to preserve the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) between Moscow and Washington
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 01st February, 2019) German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday she would continue talks to preserve the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) between Moscow and Washington.The Cold War-era treaty has been at the center of Europe's security. Washington said it was suspending participation in the deal and would pull out in 180 days if Russia fails to meet its demands, while the latter denied committing any breaches.
"We have discussed this [INF] in the past weeks, including within NATO ... We will do everything within this 180-day timeframe ... to continue negotiations," Merkel told reporters in Berlin.
US President Donald Trump said last year he wanted the treaty to be extended to China, which has become a military power to be reckoned with since the INF was signed in 1987.
Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at Russia's upper house of parliament, accused the United States of having taken the decision to quit long ago.
