The Russian Defense Ministry has requested explanations from the Pentagon over recent statements by General Martin Dempsey, who said the United States might deploy in Europe and Asia its cruise and ballistic missiles, which might be targeted against Russia, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov, said.
"The Russian Defense Ministry is conducting a scrupulous analysis of information regarding compliance with the INF treaty coming from different sources. Certainly, we took note of these publications in the Western press. In order to obtain official explanations from the American side we have dispatched a request through military-diplomatic channels," TASS cited him as saying.
"The measures mentioned by US sources would mean the United States’ walkING out of the INF treaty," Antonov noted.
"We believe that the return of US intermediate and shorter range missiles to Europe, their deployment in other regions from where they might threaten Russia and other countries would cause a drastically negative impact on global security and stability," he said.
According to him, the Russian Defense Ministry had more than once vowed commitment to the INF Treaty. "We confirm that we are prepared for a professional competent discussion of all problems regarding the parties’ compliance with that treaty," the Deputy Minister said.
The Russian Defense Ministry is counting on an honest dialogue by experts, but it should count on specific facts, not on circumstantial evidence, hints or general speculations over hypothetical violations.
