China News Agency, Moscow, October 26 (Reporter Wang Xiujun) Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a statement on the 26th, proposing several supplementary measures to ease the situation in Europe after the invalidation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Putin mentioned that Russia will continue to abide by its commitments and will not take the lead in deploying land-based short- and medium-range missiles in areas where US-made short- and medium-range missiles are not deployed. NATO member states should also consider suspending the deployment of such missiles.

Data map: Putin.

  According to the Russian Presidential News Network, Putin said in the statement that Russia has always believed that the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is an important measure to ensure international security and strategic stability, and that it has played a special role in preventing and controlling the deployment of missiles in Europe.

It is a very serious mistake for the United States to stop implementing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and finally withdraw from the treaty.

The continued tension between Russia and NATO will pose a new threat to the security of Europe as a whole.

  Putin suggested that all parties consider formulating specific plans for mutual verification.

For example, it is possible to check the land-based Aegis system equipped with the MK-41 launcher deployed by the United States and NATO countries in European bases, and the 9M729 missile deployed by the Russian armed forces in Kaliningrad Oblast.

The purpose of the verification is to confirm whether the two sides have deployed land-based short- and medium-range missile devices and weapons in dispute (9M729 missiles) that are strictly prohibited in the Intermediate-Range-Range Treaty.

The Russian side always believes that the 9M729 missile is in full compliance with the relevant provisions of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

However, Russia is willing to not continue to deploy 9M729 missiles in the European part of its country on the basis of the principle of good faith, but the premise is that NATO member states do not deploy weapons prohibited by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in Europe.

  Putin called on relevant countries to seek to establish mechanisms to maintain stability and prevent missile crises in the Asia-Pacific region.

Russia is willing to cooperate in this regard.

  The Chairman of the Committee of International Affairs of the Russian Federation Council (the upper house of the parliament) Kosachev said through social networking sites that Western countries may find reasons to refuse to negotiate on the new Russian statement.

  The "Intermediate-Range-Range Treaty" is called "The Soviet Union and the United States Treaty on Elimination of Intermediate-Range, Medium- and Short-Range Missiles."

The treaty is an arms control agreement signed by the heads of the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987 to destroy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles between the two countries.

According to this treaty, the two countries no longer maintain, produce or test land-based cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and their launching devices with a range of 500 kilometers to 5,500 kilometers.

  In February 2019, U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo announced that due to Russia’s long-term violation of the provisions of the Intermediate-Range-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the U.S. side would suspend performance of its treaty obligations and initiate a six-month withdrawal procedure. On March 4 of the same year, Putin signed an order, and Russia will suspend the implementation of the Intermediate-Range-Range Treaty from the date the order is signed. Since then, Russia will suspend the implementation of the "Intermediate-Range Treaty" presidential decree in legal form. (Finish)