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Illustration. PHOTO/Reuters
His comments further warned that Russia demands security from the West, while the United States and its allies are pulling out of what Moscow views as a potential invasion of Ukraine.
Read: Putin: Balanced in Nuclear Weapons, Russia Outperforms US in New Weapons
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) in Europe was a 1987 treaty agreed between Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and US President Ronald Reagan, which was later welcomed to significantly ease Cold War tensions. Washington ended the deal in 2019, after complaining of years of alleged abuse by Russia.
Ryabkov said there were “indirect signs” that NATO was close to redeploying the INF, including last month’s restoration of the 56th Artillery Command, which operated the nuclear-capable Pershing missile during the Cold War.
“The lack of progress towards a political and diplomatic solution to this problem will lead to our response to the military and technical nature of the military,” Ryabkov said.
“That is, this is a conflict, this is the next round, and such a resource will appear on our side. Now, we have a one-sided moratorium. We have NATO and the United States. Invite them to participate in this moratorium,” he continued.
Read: If Russia invades Ukraine, the US will send troops to 9 NATO member countries
Meanwhile NATO maintains that there are no new US missiles in Europe and is ready to thwart Russia’s new missiles with a “measured” reaction involving only conventional weapons. However, Ryabkov stressed that Russia has a “lack of trust” in NATO.
“They didn’t allow themselves to do anything, which somehow increased our security. They say they can act to their advantage, if necessary.”
Ryabkov also said Russia would offer follow-up proposals to the US and possibly other NATO countries in the coming weeks.
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