Director of the Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Vladimir Yermakov, dubbed on Wednesday claims that China poses a threat to Russia as attempts to drive a wedge between the two countries, adding that Moscow won't allow that to happen.
"Our German colleagues once again word for word reiterated what the Americans said earlier… We remember the statements made in the media by the US National Security Adviser John Bolton, that 'Chinese missiles are aimed at the heart of Russia.' We appreciate this concern for Russian security, although it seems that it is far from being selfless," Yermakov said.
READ MORE: Putin: Russia-US INF Tensions 'No Reason to Create New Cuban Missile Crisis'
On Tuesday, Yermakov attended in Berlin a meeting of the subgroup on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction of the Russian-German high-level working group on security policy.
Prior to that, Russian lawmaker Peter Tolstoy said that Washington's decision to quit the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia has put the lives of all Europeans at risk. The view was echoed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said on 25 February that Europe would be most vulnerable to any negative consequences of the potential collapse of the INF Treaty.
The United States said it suspended its obligations under the INF starting 2 February after accusing Russia of breaching the treaty. Russia denied the claim. In an annual address to the Russian parliament on Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin said Russia was ready to respond to threats coming from European territory.
