Russia Foreign Ministry Denies US Accusations of Violating INF Treaty

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RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED 05.08.2014

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday dismissed US accusations of violating the Soviet-era intermediate-range nuclear treaty with the United States calling them "ungrounded."

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Tuesday that Washington had determined, according to an intelligence analysis, that Moscow was in violation of its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, but declined to provide any evidence.

"These statements are as ungrounded as all other Washington’s claims against Moscow that have been voiced recently,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“No supporting evidence has ever been provided,” the statement said.

The ministry also stressed that Russia had its own complaints about the US compliance with the INF treaty.

The ministry has criticized Washington’s plans to deploy the MK 41 VLS launching systems in Poland and Romania as part of the “phased adaptive approach” for missile defense.

“These launching systems are capable of launching cruise missiles of medium-range cruise missiles and their ground version may be considered as a direct violation of the INF treaty,” the statement said.

The INF is a 1987 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union to eliminate the use of nuclear and conventional missiles with intermediate range, defined as 500 to 5,000 kilometers (310 to 3,100 miles).

Topics: Russia, USA

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