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Russia ready to discuss INF treaty with US but problem should be depoliticized

As for this moment, the INF is used as a propaganda tool so as to expose once again the alleged aggressive essence of Russia's intentions, Russia's ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko says
Elimination of SS-23 missile under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, 1989 (archive) Vladimir Velengurov/Fotokhronika TASS
Elimination of SS-23 missile under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, 1989 (archive)
© Vladimir Velengurov/Fotokhronika TASS

MOSCOW, June 30. /TASS/. Russia is prepared to hold discussions of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with the US but the problem must be depoliticized, Russia's ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko said on Tuesday in the course of a televised linkup between Moscow and Brussels.

"We’ve been saying from the very beginning we were ready to consider any concerns and to hold consultations with the American side and we did hold such consultations," Grushko said.

"Still, no one has shown us any precisely specified problems that might cause whatever concern on the American side," he said.

"On the other hand, we haven’t received any clear answers to our concerns," he said. These concerns arise, for instance, from the positioning of antimissile defence system facilities in Poland and Romania and, on top of that, there are some questions regarding the use of unpiloted strike vehicles," Grushko said.

"The situation is crystal clear," he went on. "We're prepared to hold a serious discussion but it should be devoid of politicizing and based on facts. As for this moment, the INF is used as a propaganda tool so as to expose once again the alleged aggressive essence of Russia's intentions."