Russia confirms compliance with INF treaty, rebuking the U.S.

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01:30

Russia on Wednesday reiterated its full compliance with an arms control agreement with the U.S. by demonstrating the structural layout of the missile that the U.S. accused of exceeding the range set in the INF accord.

In a news briefing, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reaffirmed that Russia had not violated the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which bans ground-launched missiles with a range of between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.

He accused the U.S. of fabricating the accusations, saying the country has consistently sought to "derail the treaty".

The U.S. previously accused Russia of violating the INF treaty in 2008, saying that their 9M729 (also known as SSC-8) missiles do not comply with the agreement.

In December, Undersecretary for Arms Control at the U.S. State Department Andrea Thompson called for Russia to end or modify the 9M729 missile system.

Ryabkov criticized the U.S. of resorting to "hints" and "illusions" without providing solid facts to support its accusation about the missile.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov speaks during a news briefing on SSC-8/9M729 cruise missile system at Patriot Expocentre near Moscow, Russia, January 23, 2019. /VCG Photo

The deputy minister also slammed the U.S.' unwillingness to talk, calling the recent meeting in Geneva to salvage the treaty between U.S. and Russian officials a "failure".

During the latter half of the news briefing, Russian artillery chief Mikhail Matveevsky displayed pictures showing the structural layout of the 9M729, stressing its maximum range is 480 kilometers (300 miles).

Wednesday's briefing was the first time Russia has offered details of the missile in question to prove it's within the acceptable range.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would withdraw his country from the INF treaty in October last year.

Last month, Washington gave Russia a 60-day deadline – which ends on February 2 – to dismantle the missiles it claims breach the agreement or the U.S. would begin the six-month process of formally withdrawing from the deal.

(Top image: A component of SSC-8/9M729 cruise missile system is on display during a news briefing, organized by Russian defence and foreign ministries, at Patriot Expocentre near Moscow, Russia, January 23, 2019. /VCG Photo)

(With input from AFP)