US Ready to Discuss INF Treaty Issue, Russia ‘Unwilling’: Official

WASHINGTON, December 17 (Sputnik) — The United States is ready to continue discussing alleged violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) with Russia, but sees no willingness to talk about US concerns from Russian counterparts, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control told Sputnik on Wednesday.

“The Russians have not acknowledged our concern at all and I think and important first step is to acknowledge our concerns and get to work,” Rose Gottemoeller told Sputnik of the back and forth allegations by US and Russian officials that both sides had violated the INF Treaty.

“There’s no willingness to talk about our [US] concerns. And that’s the crux of the issue,” she said.

The Under Secretary added that she would be “delighted” to hear from her Russian counterparts on the ground-launched cruise missile systems the State Department believes Russia is developing in violation of the Treaty. She emphasized that the United States is ready to continue discussing the issue with Russia.

The INF Treaty was signed by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1988 and banned nuclear and conventional ground-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500 to 5500 kilometers (310-3417 miles).

In July 2014, the US State Department officially accused Russia of non-compliance with the treaty. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has repeatedly questioned the claims, stressing that the United States has failed to provide evidence to validate the accusations. Russian officials have also questioned US compliance with the treaty.