Kremlin: Russia Is Open To Possible New Arms Control Deals With U.S.

Dmitry Peskov, Valery Sharifulin / TASS

Reuters: Russia is open to possible new arms control deals with U.S.: Kremlin aide

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, commenting on a media report that U.S. President Donald Trump wants a new arms control deal with Moscow and Beijing, said Russia was open to the possibility of new arms control deals, but that there were no ongoing talks.

Citing administration officials, The Washington Post reported on Thursday that Trump has ordered his administration to prepare a push for a new arms control agreement with Russia and China due to the mounting cost of the 21st-century nuclear arms race.

Ushakov, in remarks to Russian state TV released on Sunday, said Moscow was ready to hold talks about the subject.

“Firstly, what exists already (by way of arms control agreements) needs to be honored,” said Ushakov. “We are also ready for new ones, but for that serious negotiations are needed and unfortunately so far nobody has embarked on any.”

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WNU Editor: This is not what the Kremlin was saying the day before .... Trump Proposals on Nuclear Arms Disarmament 'Not Serious' — Kremlin (Reuters).

More News On The Kremlin Saying That Russia Is Open To New Arms Control Deals With U.S.

Kremlin open to discussing new arms control treaty with US, aide says -- The Hill
Kremlin Welcomes Trump's Proposal to Reduce Nuclear Arsenal, But Needs Details -- Sputnik
Kremlin: Trump’s nuclear disarmament ideas are commendable, no discussions with Russia yet -- TASS

Russian President Putin Signs Decree Suspending INF Nuclear Treaty With The U.S.

Map showing the range of nuclear weapons covered by the intermediate range nuclear forces treaty. (AFP/Sabrina BLANCHARD)

ABC News Online: Russian President Vladimir Putin signs decree suspending INF nuclear pact

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree suspending Russia's participation in the Cold War-era nuclear weapons treaty with the United States, the Kremlin said.
Key points:

Russia announced last month it was suspending the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty after the United States said it would withdraw because of violations by Moscow.

Russia denies flouting the accord and has accused Washington of breaking the accord itself, allegations rejected by the United States.

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WNU Editor: This is unfortunate.

More News On Russian President Putin Signing A Decree Suspending Its INF Nuclear Treaty Obligations With The U.S.

Putin signs decree suspending Russia’s compliance with INF Treaty -- TASS
Russia suspends INF Treaty with US - Kremlin -- RT
Putin suspends Russian obligations under key nuclear pact -- AP
Putin suspends INF arms treaty with US -- Channel News Asia/AFP
Putin Officially Suspends Russia's Participation In INF Treaty With U.S. -- RFE
Russia officially suspends INF Treaty with US -- Al Jazeera

Could The Collapse Of The U.S. - Russian Nuclear Treaty Lead To A Cold War-Like Arms Race?

A static display of intercontinental ballistic missiles at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., front gate the evening of April 4, 2012. From left are the Peacekeeper, the Minuteman III and the Minuteman I. The planet Venus is visible in the sky above the Minuteman missiles and Jupiter is visible to the left of the Minuteman I. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

Tasha Wibawa, ABC News Online: Why the collapse of a historic nuclear treaty could lead to a Cold War-like arms race

The United States and Russia have ripped up a Cold War-era nuclear missile treaty, leaving analysts fearing a potential arms race with global ramifications.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia was ready for a Cuban Missile-style crisis if the US wanted one, referring to the 1962 standoff that brought the world to the edge of nuclear war.

Decades later, tensions between the two nations are heating up again.

Mr Putin warned that Moscow would retaliate if the US placed new missiles closer to Russia, telling local media that Moscow could deploy hypersonic missiles on ships and submarines outside US territorial waters.

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WNU Editor:  We are still far away from a Cold War-like arms race. But the trend-lines are not good.

China Is Not Interested In Doing Any Nuclear Missile Deal

The mobile DF-26 is shown in a military parade in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region in 2017 celebrating the PLA's 90th birthday. CHINA DAILY

Reuters: China rebuffs Germany's call for U.S. missile deal with Russia

MUNICH (Reuters) - China rejected on Saturday German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s appeal to join a Cold War-era arms control treaty that the United States accuses Russia of breaching, saying it would place unfair limits on the Chinese military.

Fearing a nuclear arms race between China, Russia and the United States after the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, which the United States is withdrawing from, Merkel made her call for a global treaty.

“Disarmament is something that concerns us all and we would of course be glad if such talks were held not just between the United States, Europe and Russia but also with China,” Merkel told the Munich Security Conference.

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WNU Editor: Here is an easy prediction. There will be a day when China will make the decision to expand its nuclear missile forces. For those who support international treaties to limit nuclear missile forces, this is going to be a problem.

Russia Announces Its Withdrawal From The INF Treaty, Putin Directs Ministers Not to Start New Talks

Daily Mail: Putin says Russia will follow the US and withdraw from Cold War-era nuclear missile pact and build new hypersonic weapons - as he accuses Trump of being too 'immature' for 'meaningful' talks

* Vladimir Putin said on Saturday in Moscow he would exit the Cold-War era pact
* Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the US were pulling out on Friday
* Putin said the Kremlin would have to wait until their partners 'matured enough'
* The Gorbachev-Reagan treaty kept intermediate range missiles out of Europe

President Vladimir Putin says he is suspending Russian participation in a landmark Cold War-era missile treaty in response to the US announcement yesterday.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Friday that the US would no longer comply with the treaty which kept intermediate range missiles out of Europe, beginning as soon as Saturday.

Not to be outdone Putin stated today: 'Our American partners have announced they are suspending their participation in the deal, and we are also suspending our participation.'

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More News On Russia Announcing Its Withdrawal From The INF Treaty

Russia to pull plug on nuclear arms pact after US does same -- AP
Russia suspends nuclear arms treaty after U.S. says to pull out -- Reuters
Russia Suspends INF Deal With US, Putin Directs Ministers Not to Start New Talks -- Sputnik
Russia suspends participation in INF Treaty, says Putin -- TASS
Russia suspends INF Treaty in ‘mirror response’ to US halting the agreement -- RT
Russia withdraws from INF nuclear arms pact, after US move -- DW
Pompeo announces suspension of nuclear arms treaty with Russia -- CNN
Russia to abandon nuclear arms treaty after US accuses Moscow of deploying banned missiles -- The Telegraph
Putin says Russia suspends INF treaty with US and will begin work on hypersonic missiles -- Euronews
Russia withdraws from Cold War-era nuclear weapons treaty with US -- ABC News Online
'Quid pro quo': Russia suspends INF nuclear treaty after US move -- Al Jazeera

U.S. To Withdraw From The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (News Roundup)

Daily Mail: Pompeo pulls U.S. out of Cold War era nuclear treaty which took missiles out of Europe after Russia is accused of 'unlawfully' breaking it for FIVE YEARS

* U.S. arms controls officials held last-ditch talks in Moscow Thursday on the 1987 signed Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF
* Treaty was signed by Reagan and Gorbachev and led to both Soviet and U.S. land-based mid-range nuclear missiles being banned
* Both countries could continue to have long-range and short-range missiles, and air and sea-launched weapons systems under the treaty
* Treaty was seen as key part in ending Cold War tension but the Trump administration says Putin is violating it with his new Novatar 9M729 missile
* Russians say the U.S. is looking for a pretext to leave the treaty; move will let U.S. develop new weapons systems and potentially station them in Europe

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Friday that the U.S. will no longer comply with a landmark nuclear treaty with Russia, beginning as soon as Saturday.

Pompeo says the U.S. will suspend its obligations to the treaty on Saturday.

If Russia doesn't come into compliance, the treaty 'will terminate,' he said.

Speaking at the State Department Friday, Pompeo said: 'For years Russia has violated the terms of the intermediate range nuclear forces treaty without remorse.

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WNU Editor: The U.S. has put a time limit of 6 months before leaving the treaty.

U.S. To Withdraw From The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (News Roundup)

U.S. suspends weapons treaty compliance with Russia, may withdraw in six months -- Reuters
US pulls out of Cold War-era nuclear treaty, blaming Russia -- AP
US bolts Cold War missile treaty as Russia warns of arms race -- AFP
US pulling out of Cold War-era arms control treaty with Russia, Pompeo says -- FOX News
US announces withdrawal from INF missile treaty -- DW
Pompeo announces suspension of nuclear arms treaty with Russia -- CNN
Trump pulls US out of Cold War-era nuclear weapons treaty with Russia, triggering arms race fears -- The Independent
Trump administration to suspend nuclear treaty with Russia -- The Hill
Trump formally suspends US role in missile treaty with Russia -- SCMP/Politico
US leaving nuclear arms control treaty with Russia -- Al Jazeera
US: Russia's INF rhetoric a 'laughable' fraud -- DW
What is the INF nuclear treaty? -- DW

U.S. - Russian Nuclear Talks To Save The INF Treaty Have Collapsed

Reuters: U.S. to stop complying with nuclear pact with Russia after talks flop

BEIJING/MOSCOW (Reuters) - The United States will stop complying with a landmark nuclear pact with Russia as soon as this weekend after last-ditch talks with Moscow to save it fell flat, a senior U.S. arms control official said on Thursday.

Washington has long accused Russia of flouting the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), alleging that a new Russian missile, the Novator 9M729, called the SSC-8 by NATO, violates the pact, which bans either side from stationing short- and intermediate-range, land-based missiles in Europe.

Russia denies that, saying the missile’s range puts it outside the treaty, and has accused the United States of inventing a false pretext to exit a treaty Washington wants to leave anyway so as to develop new missiles. It has also rejected a U.S. demand to destroy the new missile.

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WNU Editor: The U.S. will withdraw from the INF treaty this Saturday. I am just surprised that aside from nuclear arms control advocates, there has been very little political opposition in Washington against President Trump on this decision. It appears that the Democrats are more focused on this .... Top Democrats introduce bill to prevent US from striking first with nuclear weapons (Stars and Stripes/Washington Post).

More News On The Collapse Of The INF Treaty

INF Treaty talks between Russia and the U.S. fail at summit -- NBC
Trump to abandon arms pact with Russia as soon as Saturday, US official says -- The Hill
Fears of a renewed nuclear arms race with Russia spike as weapons pact teeters on deadline -- Washington Times
The U.S. will quit this nuclear treaty with Russia “this weekend,” official says -- Vice News
Russia says 'no progress' in settling INF Treaty disputes with U.S. -- CGTN

Russia Wants Talks With The U.S. On The 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty

Reuters

RFE: Russia Says It's Ready For Talks With U.S. On Key Arms-Control Treaty

Russia says it is prepared to hold talks with the United States to maintain a landmark arms-control treaty signed between U.S. and Soviet leaders in 1987.

The Russian Foreign Ministry's statement on December 8 coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which eliminated an entire class of cruise and ballistic missiles in Europe and established a verification framework to ensure compliance.

Washington has accused Russia of being in violation of the treaty, which is widely seen as a bedrock agreement for U.S.-Russian arms control.

A senior U.S. State Department official said last month that Russia has developed a nuclear-capable cruise missile "in clear violation" of the INF Treaty.

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WNU Editor: The altitude from Washington is that this treaty has already been violated .... Novator 9M729: The Russian Missile that Broke INF Treaty's Back? (National Interest). Russia in turn is denying these U.S. claims .... Lavrov dismisses allegations about Russia’s violations of INF treaty as groundless (TASS).

More News On Russia Wanting Talks With The U.S. On The 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty

Russia seeks talks with US on Cold War-era arms treaty -- FOX News
Keeping INF treaty in place to require more responsibility from US - Russian diplomat -- TASS
Trump and Putin Risk Arms Race in Europe If They Don't Keep Nuclear Treaty, Warns Gorbachev -- Newsweek
Gorbachev: Political Will Is Needed to End US-Russia Row Over INF Treaty -- Sputnik
Are Arms Control Agreements Losing Their Value? -- Nikolai Sokov, The National Interest/Yahoo News
After the INF Treaty: An Objective Look at US and Russian Compliance, Plus a New Arms Control Regime -- Kevin Ryan, Russia Matters
The Death of the INF Treaty Could Signal a U.S.-Russia Missile Race -- Steven Pifer, The National Interest/Yahoo News

U.S. Accuses Russia Of Violating Two Arms-Control Treaties

Reuters / Maxim Shemetov

U.S.: Russia In Violation Of Two Arms-Control Treaties -- Radio Free Europe

WASHINGTON -- The United States has accused Russia of violating two key arms-control treaties.

Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller said at a congressional hearing on December 10 that Russia was in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE).

Russia has denied that it violated the INF Treaty and accused the United States of its own violations. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a moratorium on the CFE Treaty in 2007.

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More News On The U.S. Accusing Russia Of Violating Two Arms-Control Treaties

Russian Arms Control Violation Prompts Joint Staff Assessment -- US Department of Defense
US Weighs Steps Against Russia for Violation -- AP
U.S. readying military, economic options to Russian missile treaty violation -- Navy Times
Russia In The Hotseat Again This Time For Violating Nuclear Weapons Treaty, Could Face New Sanctions -- IBTimes

Update: The U.S. is now considering the following response ....

Pentagon Considering Deployment of Nuclear Missiles in Europe -- Washington Free Beacon
Russian Nuclear Weapons Threat By Vladimir Putin May Have Pentagon Deploying U.S. Cruise Missiles To Europe -- Inquisitr

40-Year Old Treaty Still Limits Nukes

In this July 1, 1968, photo U.S. Ambassador Llewellyn E. Thompson, left, signs the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in Moscow, Russia, as co-signer, Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko, right, watches.

(WASHINGTON) — A landmark treaty signed 40 years ago Tuesday by 61 countries is turning out to be more successful than predicted in keeping the nuclear weapons club small.

But as a State Department official cautioned at the time in a newly published memo, the United States has limited leverage to slow down the spread of bombs.

"I don't think we are reining in technology," said Richard Rosecrance, a Harvard adjunct professor who was on the State Department's policy planning staff in 1968 when he wrote the memo for Secretary of State Dean Rusk: "That's very difficult to do. But we may be able to rein in intentions."

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My Comment: The know-how to make a nuclear bomb ... even a crude one ... is now readily available. The secret to make a Hydrogen Bomb is fortunately still limited to only a few countries.

Will more countries develop nuclear weapons .... this is probably not going to be the case. Will terrorist groups develop a crude nuclear bomb for their own use .... this will probably be the case.

For the next 50 years, the biggest nuclear issue will no longer be the nuclear stockpiles of medium-super powers, but the stockpiles of rogue nations and groups. How to limit this is still an issue that needs the cooperation among all the nations of the world .... but what this cooperation be like is still something that needs to be ironed out.

Wikipedia's entry on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is here. The text of the treaty is here.