TOKYO (Sputnik) — The 1987 deal between the then Soviet Union and the United States banned nuclear and conventional ground-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 300 to 3,400 miles.
"We call upon the Russian Federation to preserve the viability of the INF Treaty by ensuring full and verifiable compliance," the ministers said in a statement.
US, Japanese, British, Italian, French, German and Canadian top diplomats emphasized that the INF was a landmark pact that was an important element of European and Asian security.
They also said compliance with the pact was a "contribution by the United States, the Russian Federation and other States Parties to the fulfilment of their obligation under Article VI of the NPT [Non-Proliferation Treaty]."
Washington previously claimed that Russia was not fulfilling its INF treaty obligations, after Moscow had allegedly tested a ground-launched cruise missile.
In December, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow believed the United States violated the bilateral arms control deal when it installed Mk 41 vertical launching systems in Eastern Europe.
