US Attempt to 'Bury' INF Treaty Creating New Risks for Europe: Lavrov
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Washington is creating new risks for Europe by attempting to undermine the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
“The reckless expansion of NATO, the build-up of the alliance’s potential on the so-called Eastern flank, the deployment of US missile defense systems in Europe, the illegitimate sanctions under imaginary pretexts — all these things have led to a crisis of confidence in the Euro-Atlantic”, Lavrov said Thursday, Sputnik reported.
He added that Washington is also creating new risks for Europe by attempting to "bury the INF Treaty".
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s response comes after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Washington would suspend its participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 60 days "unless Russia returned to full compliance with the agreement".
The US threats to suspend its adherence to the INF Treaty came in line with the previous statements made by President Donald Trump, claiming that Russia had violated the agreement and thus forcing Washington to exit it. Russia has denied the accusations, also noting that the United States was deploying launchers for Tomahawk missiles in Romania and Poland, which was prohibited by the treaty.
