The US has given Russia 60 days to comply with the INF Treaty.

The US Air Defense Identification Zone (AAMDS) missile defense system is located at Deveselu Air Base, 180km south of Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Source: EPA/VNA

On December 4th, the United States issued an ultimatum to Russia, stating that Washington would withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), a Cold War-era treaty aimed at limiting intermediate-range nuclear weapons, if Moscow did not return to compliance within 60 days.

Speaking at a press conference following the NATO foreign ministers' meeting, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated: "Today, the United States declares that Russia is in violation of the treaty, and within 60 days, we will terminate our obligations (under the treaty) as a remedy unless Russia returns to full and verifiable compliance."

According to Secretary of State Pompeo, Russia has developed "multiple battalions of SSC-8 missiles," also known as the Novator 9M729 medium-range cruise missile.

He asserted that "the missiles' range makes them a direct threat to Europe."

Meanwhile, NATO issued a statement supporting the US accusations against Russia, formally accusing Moscow of violating the INF Treaty, a treaty that would eliminate ground-launched nuclear missiles from Europe.

Following the NATO foreign ministers' meeting, the foreign ministers of the alliance issued a statement declaring: "The allies have concluded that Russia has developed and deployed a missile system called 9M729, in violation of the INF Treaty and posing a significant threat to Euro-Atlantic security. We strongly support the US conclusions that Russia has seriously violated its obligations under the INF Treaty."