2 Aug 2019 11:59

Moscow eyeing three scenarios after INF Treaty termination - diplomat

MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - Several scenarios are possible after the U.S. withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, including an arms race and talks on mitigating the consequences, according to Russian Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov.

"U.S. terminates the INF Treaty on August 2. What's next? Three scenarios can be foreseen: status quo; new arms race; after a pause (to digest a new reality) negotiations on political or legal measures to mitigate the consequences," Ulyanov wrote on Twitter.

"Which one will prevail?" he wondered.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier on Friday that the INF Treaty was terminated on August 2 at the U.S. initiative.