Putin: US Raising Risk of Nuclear War by Refusing Talks

Says US move to withdraw from INF has unpredictable consequences

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.

Author: Jason Ditz

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.