Putin: U.S. pullout from INF Treaty threatens international security

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the pullout of the United States from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear forces (INF) Treaty a direct step towards unraveling the entire system of international security accords.

"The decision by the United States to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is a direct step towards unravelling the entire system of accords in the sphere of international security," the Russian head of state said at a board meeting of the Federal Security Service (FSB).

"This undoubtedly changes the operational situation and, unfortunately, not for the better," TASS cited Putin as saying.