ABC News Online: US pulls out of decades-long nuclear missile pact with Russia claiming they violated treaty
The United States has formally withdrawn from a landmark nuclear missile pact with Russia saying Moscow was in violation of the treaty, something the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.
The 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) was negotiated by then-US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
It banned land-based missiles with a range of between 500-5,500 kilometres, thus reducing both countries' abilities to launch a nuclear strike at short notice.
Washington signalled it would pull out of the arms control treaty six months ago unless Moscow stuck to the accord.
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WNU Editor: I think there is a China angle besides a Russian one on why the U.S. withdrew from the treaty .... INF nuclear treaty: Trump says new pact should include China (BBC). By ending the treaty the U.S. can now proceed with the development of a new nuclear missile that can be deployed to Asia .... US to test new missile as arms treaty with Russia ends (AP). More here .... SECDEF: US has withdrawn from INF, will ‘fully pursue’ development of new missile systems (Defense News/AP).
More News On The U.S. Formally Withdrawing From The INF Nuclear Treaty With Russia
US formally withdraws from nuclear treaty with Russia and prepares to test new missile -- CNN
US Leaves INF Treaty, Says Russia ‘Solely Responsible’ -- VOA
US Exit From INF Treaty is a 'Grave Mistake' – Russian Foreign Ministry -- Sputnik
US and Russia trade blame for ending INF arms treaty -- DW
Demise of US-Russia nuclear treaty fuels fears of new arms race -- AFP
The US just withdrew from an important nuclear arms treaty with Russia. Don’t panic — yet. -- Alex Ward, VOX
Will we see a new arms race? That depends on Russia, says NATO chief -- Martin Banks, Defense News
The end of the Reagan-era INF treaty could start a US-Russia arms race, critics say -- David Jackson and Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY
