The corresponding statement was made at the opening of the historical and documentary exhibition “1939. The beginning of World War II. ”
“This was being prepared for a long time, long before August 2, when the legal obligations of the parties under the INF Treaty formally expired,” RIA Novosti quotes the Minister.
According to Lavrov, in October last year, the US Presidential Assistant for National Security, John Bolton, during a visit to Russia, noted that Washington’s decision to withdraw from the INF Treaty was already taken.
“He told us ... that Trump’s statement about the need to withdraw from this treaty is not an invitation to dialogue, this is the final decision made. Apparently, even then, maybe even earlier, they began to prepare the tests that took place, ”he emphasized.
Earlier, the Kremlin noted that the preparation of such tests requires considerable time and it is impossible to organize such events in a few weeks.
On August 19, the Pentagon announced the test of a banned INF Treaty cruise missile.
The agreement was officially terminated at the initiative of the United States on August 2.