OREANDA-NEWS. The Russian Foreign Ministry officially confirmed that the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF Treaty) was terminated on August 2 at the initiative of the United States. "On August 2, 2019, on the initiative of the American side, the Treaty between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America on the elimination of their medium-range and shorter-range missiles, signed in Washington on December 8, 1987, was terminated", the document said on Friday on the portal legal information.

In December 2018, the United States put forward the ultimatum to Russia to destroy new 9M729 type cruise missiles, which, according to Washington and its NATO allies, violate the INF Treaty. Moscow rejected these claims, saying that the technical characteristics of these missiles are within the parameters permitted by the INF Treaty. All information provided, including the presentation of this missile to a foreign military attaché, was ignored by the United States and NATO countries.

On February 1, the United States announced the start of a formal termination procedure for the Treaty, which is designed for six months. In connection with the decisions of the American government, Russia also suspended its participation in the INF Treaty.

The Pentagon claims that the United States does not intend to deploy new ground-based nuclear missiles in Europe. However, Aegis Ashore missile defense systems already present in Romania can, if necessary, be replaced by medium-range missiles. The danger of such missiles is that they achieve their goals in a matter of minutes, without leaving the enemy a chance to prepare and repel the blow. To build nuclear capabilities in Europe, the United States and NATO don't need to deploy new ground-based missile systems.