{"id":56495,"date":"2017-12-24T16:40:58","date_gmt":"2017-12-24T16:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/12\/24\/putin-accuses-us-of-violating-cold-war-era-nuclear-pact\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:22:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:22:19","slug":"putin-accuses-us-of-violating-cold-war-era-nuclear-pact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2017\/12\/24\/putin-accuses-us-of-violating-cold-war-era-nuclear-pact\/","title":{"rendered":"Putin accuses US of violating Cold War-era nuclear pact"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MOSCOW \u2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused the U.S. of violating a landmark Cold War-era nuclear arms pact and harboring aggressive intentions, and pledged to fend off any potential threats at a fraction of the U.S. cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putin, speaking during a meeting with the top military brass, alleged that the U.S. missile defense sites in Romania containing interceptor missiles could also house ground-to-ground intermediate-range cruise missiles, which would be in violation of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that U.S. launches of target vehicles as part of tests represented another violation of the pact that bans all land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometers (310-3,410 miles).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington has rejected claims of perceived violations and accused Russia of breaking the pact by developing a new cruise missile, accusations Moscow has denied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are searching for some violations on our part while consistently infringing on it themselves,\u201d Putin said. \u201cAll that seriously affects security in Europe and in the whole world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t