Russia vows to retaliate if US withdraws from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Photo: TASS/TTXVN

Sputniknews reported that on February 1, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova affirmed that the country has the right to take appropriate countermeasures if the US decides to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

In an interview with Rossiya 1 channel, Ms. Zakharova said: "If the US side, the administration of President Donald Trump, the White House make a final decision and withdraw from the INF treaty, Moscow has the right to take appropriate reactions and countermeasures and of course we will do so."

The Russian Foreign Ministry affirmed that Moscow is ready to maintain dialogue on the INF Treaty issue.

On the same day, a member of the Russian Senate's Security and Defense Committee, Frants Klintsevich, said Moscow could revive old projects to use medium-range missiles after the US withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

Speaking after the US announced it was suspending participation in the INF treaty, Mr. Klintsevich said: "Since the Soviet era, Russia has had many projects related to the use of medium- and short-range missiles without having to invest too much. It seems that we will have to restore these projects, while strengthening modernization work."

Mr. Klintsevich also affirmed that Russia will not destroy the 9M729 missiles because these systems do not violate the INF treaty./.