Russia says it continued development of nuclear missiles during moratorium on deployment
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Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said appropriate systems and a fairly substantial arsenal were developed during a moratorium on Russia's deployment of intermediate-range missiles.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MOSCOW – Russia kept up development of intermediate- and shorter-range missile systems during a moratorium on deploying intermediate-range missiles, and now possesses a substantial arsenal of such weapons, Russian media reported late on Aug 10, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
“When the moratorium was announced, we made it clear that it applied only to deployment, and did not mention any halt to (research and development) activities,” RIA news agency quoted Mr Ryabkov as telling state broadcaster Rossiya-1 in an interview.
“So this time was used to develop the appropriate systems and to build a fairly substantial arsenal in this area. As I understand it, we now possess it,” RIA cited Ryabkov as saying.
Earlier in August, Russia said it was lifting what it called a unilateral moratorium, saying this was a forced response to moves by the US and its allies.
The ground-based shorter-range and intermediate-range treaty, signed by the Soviet Union and the US in 1987, was seen at the time as a sign of easing tensions between the rival superpowers. But over time, it unravelled as relations deteriorated.
The US withdrew from the treaty in 2019 during Mr Donald Trump’s first presidency, citing alleged violations that Russia denied. REUTERS
