DISINFO: The United States destroyed the INF treaty, not Russia
SUMMARY
The United States destroyed the INF treaty. Not because Russia violated it. Russia didn’t do it. US destroyed the treaty because it prevented the Americans from reaching the finish stage of the mythical and manic goal of achieving unilateral and exceptional military superiority.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the INF Treaty. Russia bears primary responsibility for the end of the INF Treaty, because it has produced, tested and deployed the 9M729 missile, which violates the agreement. In July 2014, the then-US President Obama officially accused Russia of testing a missile in violation of the INF Treaty, which prohibits the US or Russia from possessing, producing or test-flying ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with a range of between 500 and 5500 kilometres. In a joint statement released after the meeting held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 December 2018, NATO Foreign Ministers stated that the United States has remained in full compliance with its obligations under the INF Treaty since it entered into force and that Russia has developed and fielded a missile system, the 9M729, which violates the INF Treaty and poses significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security." US and NATO have repeatedly engaged with Russia to preserve the INF treaty. For background on pro-Kremlin myths on the INF Treaty see here. The recent "Statement by the North Atlantic Council on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty" noted that "Russia today remains in violation of the INF Treaty, despite years of U.S. and Allied engagement, including a final opportunity over six months to honour its Treaty obligations. Russia bears sole responsibility for the demise of the Treaty".