Russia is ready to abandon the deployment of 9M729 missiles in its European part, provided that NATO countries take similar steps, said Russian President Vladimir Putin in a statement published by the Kremlin’s press service.
According to Putin, Moscow invites “all interested parties to consider specific options for reciprocal verification measures to address existing concerns.” The President noted that Russia adheres to the position that the 9M729 missile meets the requirements of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), but “is ready in good faith not to undertake their deployment on the European part of the country.” As a condition for this, Putin called on NATO not to deploy weapons previously banned by the agreement in Europe.