MOSCOW. Oct 22 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia would have to respond to the expected withdrawal of the United States from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which would trigger an arms race and harm the economy, Russian military expert Col. Gen. Leonid Ivashov (Retired) told Interfax on Monday.
"By quitting the treaty, the United States will be able to place missiles near the Russian border, primarily in the territory of NATO's European members. There will be a new arms race," Ivashov, the former head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation, said.
"We do not need this arms race now. The United States seems to expect the arms race to undermine the Russian economy," Ivashov said.
Russia could retaliate against the U.S.' withdrawal by resuming production of Pioner missiles or manufacturing a ground-based modification of the Kalibr cruise missile, he said.
"From the military point of view, we have ways to respond. It's hard to say whether our economy and defense sector is up to it. There is no doubt that this arms race will harm our economy," Ivashov said.
Ivashov said he does not think Moscow can persuade Washington to preserve the treaty. "It looks like the Americans have made their decision. It's unlikely that our stance will play any role," he said.
A year ago, Ivashov told Interfax that the INF Treaty, which was signed in 1987, was not advantageous to the former Soviet Union. "But now it is better for us to extend this treaty. Otherwise the Americans will move their missiles to Europe, and the loop of this anaconda will encircle us," he said.
The United States has said multiple times that Russia was breaching the INF Treaty, but Russia denied the allegations.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on October 20 that the U.S. intends to withdraw from the treaty.