The Russian envoy to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, has on Wednesday said Washington is not likely to compromise over the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia.
According to ANI news reports, the US and Russia relations have become icy since last year’s October when US President Donald Trump has alleged Moscow of violating the INF pact and threatened to withdraw from the pact with Moscow.
Antonov said, “All decisions on the treaty were made before withdrawal was even announced. Many US admirals came forward with statements that these types of missiles are necessary to deter China. Then some story was created that we allegedly have a type of missile that goes beyond the INF Treaty. It seems to me that Americans will not compromise on this issue.”
The envoy claimed that all decisions over the INF pact were made before the withdrawal of Washington was even announced.
Russia has also alleged that the US had been manipulating the figures to become a competitor for START.
The ambassador said: “We need a very serious discussion at the negotiations table, preferably with no media.” He further stated he hopes that aides to Trump will provide sufficient reasoning to preserve the New START.