"Following the idea of ​​the United States on the destruction of the treaty": the EU called on Russia to "return" to the compliance with the INF Treaty

The European Union called on Russia to take the necessary steps to preserve the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF). This is stated in the statement of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, who noted that the agreement had made "a significant contribution to European and international security for 30 years."

“We are deeply concerned about the development of the situation around the INF Treaty, which may end on August 2, 2019. We regret the official decision of Russia on July 3, 2019 to suspend the fulfillment of its obligations under the INF. We urge the Russian Federation to effectively respond to serious concerns about the development, flight tests and deployment of ground-based 9M729 missile systems, as well as to the serious concerns about the incompatibility of this system with the provisions of the INF Treaty, said Mogherini.

Along with this, she believes that Moscow should “immediately take serious and transparent actions” in order to ensure the possibility of full verification of compliance with the provisions of the INF Treaty.

“The coming days provide the final opportunity for dialogue and taking the necessary measures to preserve this important element of the European security structure,” the EU High Representative explained.

At the same time, the appeal is addressed exclusively to Moscow, despite the fact that it was the United States that initiated the termination of the agreement signed on December 8, 1987 by General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Mikhail Gorbachev and US President Ronald Reagan.

“Inability to take an objective position”

The European Union is “working on propaganda standards” developed in the United States, said Alexey Podberezkin, director of the Center for Military-Political Studies at MGIMO.

“Mogherini’s statements repeat the main idea of ​​the American side - this agreement must be unequivocally destroyed or reformatted in such a way as to gain an absolutely one-sided advantage in favor of the West. Mogherini did not find any new arguments and arguments, ”the source explained.

The expert noted that Russia has repeatedly tried to demonstrate its readiness to discuss this topic, including regarding the 9M729 missile. At the same time in the West did not provide any evidence that it violates the contract.

In turn, the head of the department of political science and sociology of the PRUE. G.V. Plekhanov military political analyst Andrei Koshkin expressed surprise at the EU’s unilateral stance on the INF.

“It is surprising that Mogherini in his address absolutely wonders why the United States announced its withdrawal, why they did not take part in the unprecedented briefing organized by the Russian Defense Ministry and showed and told everything about the 9M729 missile. Unfortunately, none of the representatives of NATO member states was at this briefing, ”he recalled.

The expert noted that Moscow was offering Washington to discuss the possibility of extending the DDRMD, but there was no response from the American side.

“Now, the EU blindly generates a problem with a specific goal - to form a public international opinion that it is Russia that is responsible for breaking the last treaty, which restrained the proliferation of medium and short-range missiles. I am very sorry for Mogherini in her political inability to take an objective position that would allow Europe to reflect and take an appropriate decision, which would in fact ensure some kind of security for the continent. But they are led by Washington and today they are seeking to strengthen the accusations against Russia, ”stated Koshkin.

No alternative "guilt"

Recall that in February 2019, the United States unilaterally launched a procedure for withdrawing from the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles. The reason for this decision was allegedly a violation by the Russian side in the development of the 9M729 cruise missile of the Iskander operational tactical complex. Washington states that its flight range exceeds 500 km, which contradicts the conditions of the INF.

In Moscow, these accusations are denied. On January 23, 2019, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation organized a briefing in order to dispel doubts of foreign partners. The defense department submitted all the necessary documentation confirming the fact that the creation of the rocket does not violate the agreements reached in 1987. At the same time, despite the invitations, the representatives of most NATO countries, including the US military attaches, did not attend the briefing.

On July 3, Vladimir Putin signed a decree suspending the fulfillment of conditions under the Treaty on the Elimination of Medium and Short Range Missiles.

At the same time, NATO said that "in a defensive manner," they would react to non-compliance with the INF. In addition, RT got acquainted with the report of the Committee on Defense of the House of Commons of Great Britain, in which London expresses full support to the United States, who accused Russia of violating the terms of the agreement.

“Russia should openly take the necessary steps to return to full and verifiable performance (conditions of the INF. - RT ). If she doesn’t do this by August 2, she will be fully responsible for terminating the contract, ”the document says.