“I’m not particularly optimistic” that Russia will return to compliance, she told reporters at a breakfast. The dispute over the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty has added to the gravest US-Russia tensions since the end of the Cold War in 1991. Some experts fear that its demise could undermine other arms control agreements and speed an erosion of the global system designed to block the spread of nuclear arms. Washington charges that Russia has violated the INF Treaty by deploying the ground-launched Novator 9M729 nuclear-capable cruise missile. To return to compliance with the treaty, Russia must destroy the missiles, three battalions of which have been deployed, Thompson said.

Source: bd News24 January 24, 2019 18:33 UTC