Updated 04:15 p.m. Moscow Time
MOSCOW, October 20 (RIA Novosti) – A renewal of consultations between the United States and Russia on decreasing the arsenal of intermediate-range nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles is not expected in the near future, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Monday.
“We’re not expecting [any consultations],” Ryabkov said.
Over the past few months, Moscow and Washington have been accusing each other of breaching the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The 1987 treaty eliminated nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with intermediate ranges, defined as between 300-3,400 miles.
In July, Washington stated that Russia tested a prohibited ground-launched cruise missile thus violating the INF agreement.
Russia and the United States held consultations on the subject on September 11 in Moscow. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Washington failed to provide satisfactory answers to the questions addressed by the Russian side. In its turn, the US State Department stated that the United States is still concerned about Moscow's compliance with the INF treaty. The sides, however, agreed to continue the talks.
In September, Head of the Russian President's Administration Sergei Ivanov said that Moscow does not intend to leave the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty unless its security interests are threatened.
