Communiqués de presse

The INF Treaty is a mechanism that has maintained stability and predictability in the international relations for decades. Its implementation resulted
in disappearance of two classes of the nuclear weapons from the arsenals of the parties, which was a significant contribution to the process of nuclear disarmament in the context of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The INF Treaty was signed on December 8, 1987, entered into force
on June 1, 1988. Ground-based intermediate-range (1001-5500 km) and shorter-range (500-1000 km) Soviet and American ballistic and cruise missiles that fell within the scope of the treaty were completely destroyed within three years after
the treaty had come into force. Launchers, associated auxiliary facilities
and equipment were also eliminated.

In October 2018, the US President D. Trump announced that Washington intends to withdraw from the treaty. On February 2, 2019, the United States by
a note of the State Department officially notified the Russian Federation that it suspends its participation in the INF Treaty and begins the withdrawal procedure. Seeking to justify its destructive decision, the United States is waging a propaganda campaign that is based on unscrupulous interpretations and bare-faced assumptions.
The United States is deliberately downplaying the importance and validity
of Russia’s longstanding concerns about Washington’s compliance with the INF Treaty. Russia outlined its concerns about the Pentagon using the so-called target missiles in violation of the treaty back in 1999 and raised concerns about armed unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) in the early 2000s. The deployment of ground-based Mk-41 universal missile launchers as part of the Aegis Ashore complexes is another of Russia’s complaints against the United States, which arguably causes the greatest concern in the context of the treaty. They allow for land-based combat use
of Tomahawk intermediate-range cruise missiles and other attack weapons. This is
a direct and flagrant violation of the INF Treaty.

In view of crucial importance of the treaty to the European security, we are disappointed with the position of the European countries, which in the INF context have de-facto given up their independent role in ensuring their own and European security.

In the face of the new threats posed by Washington, Russia, of course, has
to undertake all necessary measures to ensure its national security. Our country reserves the right to respond with mirror-actions concerning the development, production and deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range ground-based missiles. On May 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation a draft law on suspension by Russia of the INF Treaty.

Russia has always been and remains a scrupulous party to all agreements that are in force. Fulfilling our obligations in full, we share with other states the responsibility to preserve peace and strengthen global security.