Alwaght- Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to retaliate Donald Trump's decision to pull out the US from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), calling on called on the government and military officials to develop “concrete steps” Moscow can take in response to Washington's withdrawal.
The Russian leader said at a government meeting in Sochi that the US decision to withdraw from the agreement “cannot and will not be left unanswered," Russia Today reported.
These are not empty threats, Putin warned. He said that Russia had previously cautioned the US against leaving the ABM treaty regulating missile systems and warned Washington about potential retaliation. “Now, we have hypersonic weapons capable of penetrating any missile defense,” Putin said, referring to Russia’s newest state-of-the-art weapons.
Moscow will not allow anyone to drag itself into another armed race, the Russian leader said. Instead, Russia plans to focus on “balanced development” of its Army, Navy and Air Force. The troops are expected to adopt new military training techniques, using the combat experience they received in Syria. Russia will also continue to modernize its military hardware.
Putin said he hopes that the “common sense” will prevail and the US will continue a dialog with Russia in the fields of strategic stability and collective security on the basis of “mutual responsibility".
INF Treaty signed in 1987 between the US and the Soviet Union (and later its successor state the Russian Federation) banned possession and development of short and mid-range missiles.
The US accuses Russia of violating the INF deal by building missiles it prohibits. Moscow has refuted the allegations and accused the US of non-compliance as well, arguing that it can re-purpose the missile defense complexes stationed in Eastern Europe and use them as offensive intermediate-range launchers.
