Russia Briefing On 9M729 Missile Attempt To 'Give Appearance Of Transparency' - US Embassy

The United States believed that the recent briefing on the 9M729 missile given by the Russian Defense Ministry for foreign military attaches was an attempt to appear transparent, but could not dispel US concerns over the missile, the US Embassy to Moscow told Sputnik Thursday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th January, 2019) The United States believed that the recent briefing on the 9M729 missile given by the Russian Defense Ministry for foreign military attaches was an attempt to appear transparent, but could not dispel US concerns over the missile, the US Embassy to Moscow told Sputnik Thursday.

"Russia's demonstration yesterday of what they claimed was the 9M729 missile did not change anybody's conclusion that the system is a violation of the [Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces] INF Treaty. The United States and most of our NATO Allies did not attend this briefing as we all saw it for what it was - another attempt to obfuscate the violation and give the appearance of transparency.

.. There is nothing Russia can do, show or say to change the fact that it has already tested the 9M729 cruise missile to ranges beyond 500 kilometers in violation of the INF Treaty," Andrea Kalan, the spokeswoman for the embassy, said.

"The United States has provided Russia in writing, what it must do to return to compliance and save the INF Treaty. At this stage only the complete and verifiable destruction of Russia's 9M729 missiles, launchers, and associated equipment will resolve US concerns," the embassy added.