Russia will respond appropriately and quickly if the US withdraws from the INF.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would be forced to target Europe if those countries agreed to let the US deploy nuclear missiles there.
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Russian President Putin (right) and |
Speaking at a press conference after talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on October 24, President Putin said he wanted to discuss with US President Donald Trump the plan to withdraw the US from the INF, which Putin considered a dangerous move.
President Putin stressed that Russia will respond appropriately and quickly if the US withdraws from the INF and will target European countries if they agree to let the US deploy nuclear missiles there.
Mr Putin said he did not understand why it was necessary to put Europe in such danger and that this was something Russia wanted to avoid if possible. Mr Putin also expressed concern that the world could slide into an arms race while the fate of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (NEW START) between Russia and the US remained unclear. The agreement is due to expire in 2021.
Previously, at a meeting with President Putin on October 23, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said the US would continue its plan to withdraw from the INF.
