MOSCOW. Jan 17 (Interfax) - The United States is not ready to consider Russian-proposed transparency measures in the context of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, describing this stance as erroneous and flawed.
"The position pursued by the U.S. in Geneva was one-sided, ultimatum-based and contained an element of blackmail against Russia," Ryabkov told Interfax.
"They are not ready to consider the transparency measures proposed by us. This is the conclusion we have drawn following yesterday's consultations. This position is erroneous and flawed," he said.
"It means that the U.S. is deliberately and resolutely pursuing a policy toward demolishing this treaty," he said.
"Whatever our colleagues in Washington may say, whatever is said in Brussels in the North Atlantic Council format, this will not prompt us to forgo our stance on this problem, it cannot dent or undermine our conviction that only the balance of interests, only a search for compromises, only reciprocal consideration of interests, and only taking into account the proposals we have been put forth, while we, in turn, stand ready to take American suggestions into account, can ultimately lead to an arrangement that will help preserve the INF Treaty," Ryabkov said.
"It won't work without it. The INF Treaty will fall apart," he said.
"The U.S.' current stance is a signal that Washington has embarked on a path toward demolishing this treaty," he said.
"We are troubled by that. We are concerned. We will counteract that," he said.
"The rhetoric heard from Washington and from Brussels following the NATO briefing won't change anything in this position," Ryabkov said.
"Allies in NATO may persuade each other of something as much as they please, but our stance is rock-solid - only the balance of interests, only mutual consideration of each other's positions, approaches, and concerns can help this treaty survive," Ryabkov said.