US, Russia Need To Maintain 'Constructive Dialogue' On INF Treaty - EU Diplomatic Service

The United States and Russia should keep up "constructive dialogue" on the US decision to pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), Maja Kocijancic, the European External Action Service's spokeswoman, said Monday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd October, 2018) The United States and Russia should keep up "constructive dialogue" on the US decision to pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), Maja Kocijancic, the European External Action Service's spokeswoman, said Monday.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced the country's withdrawal from the INF treaty over the alleged violations of the agreement by Russia.

"The treaty in question ... is one of the cornerstones of the European security architecture ... [The] US and Russia need to remain engaged in constructive dialogue to preserve the treaty and to ensure ... its full and verifiable implementation," Kocijancic told a briefing.

The spokeswoman added that the statement on the issue was being prepared.

"We expect the Russian Federation to address the concerns regarding its compliance with this treaty in a substantial and transparent way," Kocijancic said, when asked if the European Commission would hold Russia responsible for the dissolution of the treaty.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that Russia would announce its stance on the treaty after the United States has provided clarifications. According to Lavrov, the official mechanism for the withdrawal has not been triggered yet.