MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to retaliate if the United States withdraws from a 1987 mid-range nuclear power treaty.
Putin discussed possible ways of Russian response with senior Russian Defense Ministry officials and said the Kremlin was ready to discuss the treaty with Washington.
There is doubt that the treaty, which dates back to the Cold War era and Europe's nuclear missiles, will continue under renewed tension between the West and Russia, the most important of which is Moscow's annexation of the Crimea in 2014 and its role in eastern Ukraine.
The administration of President Donald Trump accused Russia of failing to abide by the 31-year-old nuclear power treaty and threatened to withdraw from the treaty as a result. The Kremlin denies the treaty was violated.
A Russian envoy discussed the issue with NATO during rare talks on October 31, in which NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Moscow to make rapid changes leading to full compliance with the treaty and said Russia's development of cruise missiles (SSC- 8) represents a "serious threat to strategic stability".
European leaders fear the collapse of the treaty could lead to a new arms race.
