US-Russia Geneva Consultations On INF Treaty Was Disappointing - US Official

US Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Andrea L. Thompson expressed belief on Tuesday that the US-Russian consultations on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), held in Geneva earlier in the day, were "disappointing" since Russia failed to explain how it would return to compliance with the INF, which it allegedly violated

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th January, 2019) US Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Andrea L. Thompson expressed belief on Tuesday that the US-Russian consultations on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), held in Geneva earlier in the day, were "disappointing" since Russia failed to explain how it would return to compliance with the INF, which it allegedly violated.

Thompson said that the meeting was held to uphold US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's commitment to continue talks with Russia in order to force the country to return to "full and verifiable" compliance with the INF Treaty before the 60-day deadline that Pompeo announced in early December.

"The meeting was disappointing as it is clear Russia continues to be in material breach of the Treaty and did not come prepared to explain how it plans to return to full and verifiable compliance. Our message was clear: Russia must destroy its noncompliant missile system. The U.S. delegation will brief allies and partners, including at NATO tomorrow, on these discussions," Thompson said in a statement.

In October, US President Donald Trump announced his country's intention to withdraw from the INF Treaty over alleged violations of the agreement by Russia.

On December 4, Pompeo said that the United States would suspend its adherence to the INF Treaty in 60 days unless Russia returned to full compliance with the agreement.

The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 between the Soviet Union and the United States. The agreement obligated the parties to destroy their ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles whose ranges are between 500 and 5,500 kilometers (from 311 to 3,317 miles).

Despite all accusations, Russia has emphasized on numerous occasions that it strictly complied with the obligations outlined in the treaty. Russia has also voiced concerns over Washington's implementation of the treaty.

Specifically, Russia has complained about US defense systems launchers deployed in Europe that can fire cruise missiles at ranges in violation of the INF Treaty terms.