MOSCOW, September 26. /TASS/: Moscow accuses Washington of violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, and remains committed to the spirit and letter of the document, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.
"As far as NATO is concerned, we absolutely disagree with any accusations against Russia. The Russian side has not violated the letter and spirit of the INF Treaty, and on the contrary, it continues consistently accusing the US of violating the INF Treaty, and there are grounds for that," Peskov said.
The Kremlin has not met with understanding of Russia’s stance on the issue of intermediate and shorter range missiles yet, but President Vladimir Putin continues efforts for preventing likely destabilization, Peskov told the media.
"It is true that President Putin’s message has been circulated among the main countries or Europe and Asia and international organizations," Peskov confirmed. "Although the INF Treaty has been ruined through Washington’s fault, President Putin pushes ahead with efforts with the aim of preventing higher tensions and destabilization of the situation in terms of global security and stability should the previously outlawed intermediate and shorter range missiles be deployed."
"Putin [in his message] called for preventing the deployment of these weapon systems," Peskov said. He remarked that the message "requires no answers."
"At the same time we did not meet with understanding," Peskov acknowledged. He reiterated: "The Russian president continues efforts with the aim of preventing likely destabilization and emergence of a threat the deployment of such missiles would entail."
"As far as NATO is concerned, we categorically disagree with any accusations against the Russian side. Russia has not violated the spirit or letter of the INF Treaty. On the contrary, it continues to consistently and reasonably accuse the United States of violating the INF Treaty," Peskov said.
Earlier, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the alliance’s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, had received a message from the Russian authorities containing a proposal for imposing a moratorium on the deployment of intermediate and shorter range missiles in Europe and other regions but found it unrealistic because Moscow had allegedly deployed its missile SSC-8.
The United States pulled out from the INF Treaty on August 2. Putin on August 23 issued orders to analyze the level of threat in the wake of the United States’ August 18 test of a new version of a cruise missile and take measures to prepare for a symmetrical response.
