Russia will be able to promptly and effectively respond to possible US actions in the event of their withdrawal from the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF). This statement was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference following talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who is in Moscow on a two-day official visit.
Speaking about the likely supply of American missiles to Europe after leaving the INF Treaty, Putin stated that Moscow would have to respond mirror. Therefore, European countries that agree to deploy missiles will have to understand that by such actions they put their territory at risk of a possible retaliatory strike.
“In general, I don’t understand: should Europe be brought to such a high degree of danger?” I see no reason for this, but I repeat, this is not our choice, we are not striving for this. Responding directly to your question whether we can answer, we can, and it will be very quickly and efficiently, ”Putin said.
According to him, the problem around the INF Treaty arose "not yesterday, and not three days ago," when US President Donald Trump announced a withdrawal from the agreement. He recalled that Congress approved the conduct of research and development (R & D) on medium and shorter-range missiles, and this was recorded in the new US military budget.
“This means that the decision has already been made. And if R & D is being conducted, then the next step will be taken, ”Putin said.
The Russian leader added that Moscow was worried about the elimination of the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems, from which George W. Bush unilaterally brought the United States in December 2001. Now we are talking about the INF Treaty, and in the future the fate of the Agreement on Measures to Limit Strategic Offensive Arms (START III) remains unclear.
“If all this is dismantled, then nothing will remain in the sphere of limiting the growth of armaments. Then the situation will be, in my opinion, extremely dangerous. Nothing remains but an arms race, ”the president stressed.
The Russian leader noted that as a formal pretext for a possible withdrawal of the United States from PRSD, they used accusations against Moscow for alleged violation of the agreement. However, Washington not only does not present any evidence, but also violates the contract itself by deploying Aidzhis missile launchers in Romania, which can be converted to use drums, and not anti-missile missiles by simply changing software.
“They themselves have already violated this agreement. And unmanned aerial drums? This is also a direct violation, in fact. They are no different from short-range and medium-range missiles. Therefore, this is a well-known method - “hold the thief”, but in this case it does not work, ”Putin said.
According to the president, the Russian side is carefully analyzing the situation. At the same time, the head of state stressed that Moscow is ready to work with Washington “without any hysteria” and indicative will be the decisions that follow the announcement of the intention to withdraw from the INF.
“I hope that we will be able to speak with the President of the United States on this issue on all these issues, at least on the fields of meetings in Paris on November 11,” Putin added.
In turn, Giuseppe Conte noted that Italy is concerned about the possible exit of the United States from the INF Treaty. According to him, he intends to declare to Donald Trump that Italy will do everything possible to preserve the window of dialogue on this issue.
“We must focus on other perspectives of cooperation and avoid escalation, which can be alarming for everyone,” said Conte.
“Russia is needed to develop solutions to major international crises”
Summing up the negotiations held in the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin called them informative and highly productive. According to him, almost the whole range of issues of the Russian-Italian cooperation was covered, as well as topical international topics were raised, including the situation in Syria, Libya and Ukraine.
“Italy is our important economic partner, so today Mr. Conte and I focused primarily on cooperation in the trade and investment sphere. In 2017, bilateral trade increased by more than 20% and reached $ 24 billion, and in January-August of this year added another 15%, ”Putin said.
The Russian leader expressed confidence that the agreements reached will contribute to the further development of multi-faceted Russian-Italian cooperation.
At the same time, Giuseppe Conte stated that in the realities of the multitude of challenges for European security and development, the Italian authorities note that it is extremely important to discuss these problems with such a strategic partner as Russia.
“Russia is necessary in order to develop solutions for major international crises,” the Italian prime minister said.
Referring to the current anti-Russian sanctions, Conte noted that for Italy, sanctions "are never the goal, they are a tool that should be left as soon as possible, because dialogue is the best solution."
He added that the Ukrainian crisis is a problem that “created a rift and slowed down, somehow blocked” the dialogue between Russia and Europe, which had developed over 25 years.
“We cannot allow this to happen. We must overcome this stage. He even lasted too long ... Italy is very ambitious. She would like to convince all other partners that dialogue is the best way to reach a solution, ”said Conte.
- Vladimir Putin and Giuseppe Conte
- Reuters
- © Sergei Chirikov / Pool via REUTERS
For the good of Europe
Speaking about the interaction of the two countries in the field of energy, the Russian leader said that the possibility of laying gas pipelines along the southern route for the delivery of Russian gas to Europe is currently being considered.
“We have a very wide range of energy cooperation. Regarding specifically the issues of infrastructure development, we are exploring all possibilities: and connecting Italy along various routes to the “Turkish Stream” (it can be through Bulgaria, it can even be through Serbia or Hungary, it can be through Greece), this is cooperation due to the increasing volume of future deliveries via Nord Stream 2, although we did not discuss Nord Stream 2 directly, ”Putin said.
The President recalled that the pipeline systems from Baumgarten (where Russian gas will come via Nord Stream 2) to Italy is a Russian-Italian joint venture, so in this sense Rome should be interested in implementing the Nord Stream 2 project.
“But I repeat once again: we are discussing all sorts of options, and once again I want to emphasize that they are not directed against the interests of any third party, including not aimed at infringing upon the interests of Ukraine,” the president stressed.
According to him, the ongoing infrastructure projects are designed to meet the growing needs of the energy and European economy in hydrocarbon resources in general.
"Despite difficult times"
During the talks with Conte, the Russian leader noted that Moscow and Rome continue to maintain friendly relations, no matter what.
“Between Russia and your country in recent years, decades have developed very businesslike and at the same time very warm relations, which are supported by practically all political forces both in Italy and in the Russian Federation. Despite the difficult times today, we never lost a high level of political contacts, ”Putin said.
According to him, Rome has lately somewhat “lost its position on the Russian market as an economic platform,” but nonetheless Italy ranks sixth in the foreign trade turnover of the Russian Federation. About 500 Italian companies operate in Russia, including due to this, there has been a steady increase in trade turnover over the past two years, the president noted.
#Kremlin meeting, meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, https://t.co/7d3RO8KdNUpic.twitter.com/mVtw7uklRk
- President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) October 24, 2018During the meeting, Vladimir Putin separately thanked the mayor of Rome and the medical staff who provided timely assistance to Russian football fans during the incident in the subway of the Italian capital.
For his part, Conte also spoke warmly about the relationship between Rome and Moscow, and also invited the Russian president to visit Italy.
“I would very much like you to visit Italy soon. You haven’t been with us for too long ... I wouldn’t like the Italian people to get the impression that you don’t give them enough attention, ”Conte said.
According to him, Russia and Italy continue to maintain the quality and volume of relations, which is a confirmation of the strength of ties between the countries. During his visit to Moscow, Conte intends to "once again study and see how it is possible to develop the potential" of Russian-Italian relations.
Italian projects in Russia
The President of the Russian Federation and the Italian Prime Minister also met with the leaders of leading Italian enterprises operating in Russia. At the beginning of the event, the leaders of the two countries by video link took part in the opening ceremony in Chelyabinsk of a plant for the production of high-voltage electric motors CJSC Russian Electric Motors. It is assumed that this enterprise will provide 100% production in Russia and will help eliminate dependence on foreign plants.
On Wednesday, October 24, Giuseppe Conte met with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. They discussed trade, economic and cultural cooperation, as well as cooperation in the field of helicopter construction.
“This sphere of interaction (helicopter engineering - RT ), according to Medvedev, could have a wider character,” said the first deputy head of the government administration of the Russian Federation, Sergey Prikhodko.
Recall that in 2012, in Tomilino, a Russian-Italian joint venture for the production of civilian helicopters AW139 was opened.
- AgustaWestland AW139 twin-engine multipurpose helicopter
- RIA News
- © Vitaly Belousov
At the talks, the prime ministers also touched upon cultural interaction, in particular, book publishing. In particular, Italy intends to be a guest at the next book fair.
New Deal of Rome
In early March 2018, parliamentary elections were held in Italy, as a result of which Euro-skeptics received a majority in parliament. Lawyer Giuseppe Conte was promoted to the post of prime minister.
Before the formation of the new cabinet, the Five Stars Movement and the League of the North concluded a “government contract”. Among other things, the document contains a paragraph about the need to lift anti-Russian sanctions and states that Rome favors openness in relations with Moscow, which is “not a threat, but an increasingly important trade and economic partner.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini called the sanctions against Russia "social, cultural and economic absurdity." Business circles of the republic are also in favor of economic cooperation. In February 2018 a delegation visited Crimea, which included representatives of the agricultural sector. They stated that they are aimed at establishing contacts "between the Italian and the Crimean business." In May, the peninsula was visited by ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and in June, the current government expressed its readiness to discuss the status of Crimea.