5 Jun 2015 15:58

Russia to counteract U.S. decision to place nuclear weapons in Europe - Gen. Ivashov

MOSCOW. June 5 (Interfax-AVN) - U.S. cruise missiles with nuclear warheads may be deployed in the Baltic republics, Romania or Poland, which means the United States has dared to cross the Rubicon, and Russia will have to take countermeasures, former head of the Russian Defense Ministry international military cooperation department Col. Gen. Leonid Ivashov has said.

"Speaking of intermediate and shorter range missiles, this is a question of only ballistic missiles. Cruise missiles do not fall under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty [INF]. They are likely to do so against the backdrop of general military psychosis and preparations for military operations," he told Interfax-AVN on Friday.

He was asked to comment on the declared intentions of the United States to position their missiles in Europe.

By planning the deployment of nuclear weapons in Europe, the United States violates the Russia-NATO Founding Act signed in 1997. According to that document, NATO pledged not to deploy nuclear weapons on the territories of countries which did not have them at that moment. Russia made a similar commitment. "Now the Americans are crossing this Rubicon," Ivashov said.

Russia will have to retaliate against the U.S. move, he added. "We will have to take countermeasures. Not only using Iskander [operative tactical missile systems]. We will also have to accelerate the development of precision-guidance weapons - cruise missiles, glider warheads and bombs. We have been significantly lagging behind in these fields over the 'reform' years," he said.

In the opinion of the expert, the Americans will place nuclear weapons in most loyal countries. "The Germans will hardly allow them to do so, but that may happen in the Baltic republics, Poland and Romania