Washington has accused Moscow of violating the bilateral agreement, which bans the development and deployment of nuclear and conventional ground-launched intermediate-range ballistic and cruise missiles.
Russia's Foreign Ministry has repeatedly dismissed these unfounded allegations and voiced complaints of its own regarding Washington's compliance with the treaty. For instance, the MK-41 Vertical Launching Systems are capable of firing intermediate-range cruise missiles.
Deployment of the land-based variation of the shipborne missile canister launching system could thus be considered a direct violation of the INF treaty.
Washington's other violations of the bilateral agreement are "well documented," Ulyanov noted.
Other issues include include testing of ballistic target missiles, which resemble short- and intermediate- range missiles, as well as production and extensive use of combat UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), which are functionally and de jure land-based medium-range cruise missiles, Ulyanov explained.
Moscow is bringing up these issues on a regular basis during talks with the US but "our partners are essentially refusing to discuss them," Ulyanov stated.
"The United States does not consider these activities a violation, period. So far the US has not provided any explanations, in particular with regard to the launching systems," the diplomat added.
