NATO’s support for the United States’ withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty completely discredits the North Atlantic Alliance politically, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told TASS on Friday.
According to him, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg repeats such statements every two days. “I certainly agree that practice makes perfect, and we will continue to reiterate our stance so that Stoltenberg eventually understands that by following the US example in spreading misinformation, NATO is completely discrediting itself as a political organization,” the senior Russian diplomat pointed out.
The US formally withdrew from the INF Treaty on August 2.
NATO released a statement earlier that “Russia today remains in violation of the INF Treaty, despite years of US and Allied engagement, including a final opportunity over six months to honor its Treaty obligations.” “As a result, the United States decision to withdraw from the Treaty, a decision fully supported by NATO Allies, is now taking effect,” the statement added.