NATO, Russia Fail To Reach INF Treaty Agreement, Moscow Denounces Missile System In Romania

During the NATO-Russia Council reunion on Friday, in Brussels, representatives of NATO member states urged authorities in Moscow to renounce its new cruise missile systems which can transport nuclear warheads until February 2. Should Russia not conform with the decision, the Trump Administration will start procedures to withdraw the United States from the INF Treaty.

“The INF Treaty is in real danger. As sooner as Russia will come back to respecting the Treaty, the more the situation will improve. The Treaty has no value if it is not respected; the problem is with Russian missiles in Europe,” NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said following the reunion.

The deputy of Russia’s foreign affairs minister, Sergei Ryabkov, accused the United States during the meeting of breaking the treaty by installing ballistic missile systems in Romania, according to NATO diplomats cited by Reuters.

The US missile systems in Romania are officially stated to only have defensive capabilities as part of the European-wide Aegis missile shield, meant to counteract possible threats from Iran.