Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir
Putin warned that the US is raising the risk of a nuclear war by threatening to withdraw from nuclear treaties and refusing to hold talks on another pact that is soon to expire.
Putin in particular warned of a dangerous new arms race coming out of
the withdrawal from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, saying
it would have unpredictable consequences.
“We are essentially witnessing the breakdown of the international arms
control order and the start of an arms race.” Putin said Russia would
have no choice but to respond if the US pullout led to US nuclear
missiles appearing in Europe.
Russia has been offering talks on saving the INF, and has also sought
negotiations on the expiring New START pact, which expires in 2021.
Putin has warned if talks don’t start very soon, they won’t have time to
extend New START before the expiration.
Putin: US Raising Risk of Nuclear War by Refusing Talks
Says US move to withdraw from INF has unpredictable consequences
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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