President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday dismissed U.S. claims that Russia is violating a major Cold War treaty limiting mid-range nuclear arms. The tense rhetoric comes a day after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington would withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty (INF) within 60 days if Russia does not dismantle missiles that the U.S. claims breach the deal. “First the American side stated its intention to withdraw from the treaty… then it began to look for the justifications for doing so,” said Mr. Putin. “The primary justification is that we are violating something. At the same time, as usual, no evidence of violations on our part has been provided.” Meanwhile, the Russian Army Chief of Staff Vasily Gerasimov said that Moscow would increase the capabilities of its ground-based strategic nuclear arms.
