Defence Ministers address Russia’s violation of the INF Treaty and NATO’s response

NATO Defence Ministers met in Brussels on Wednesday (26 June 2019) to address Russia’s violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the Alliance’s response. “We continue to urge Russia to return to full and verifiable compliance,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He underlined that Russia continues to produce and deploy SSC-8 missiles, and therefore NATO is preparing for a world without the INF Treaty. “Ministers have agreed today that NATO will respond should Russia fail to return to compliance,” said the Secretary General. He stressed that Russia still has a chance to save the INF Treaty and Allies will convey this message at a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council next week.