SOCHI. Dec 5 (Interfax) - Russia is expecting partners to reply to its proposal on non-deployment of shorter- and intermediate-range missiles in Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"I will emphasize it again: Russia is not interested in an arms race or a deployment of missiles where currently, there is none of them," Putin said at a closing meeting dedicated to military issues in Sochi on Thursday.
"Russia declared a unilateral moratorium on deploying such missiles and invited our partners in Europe and the United States to join us. So far, only French President [Emmanuel] Macron has replied. There is no reaction from any other partners," he said.
This "makes us take measures to counter these threats," he said.
The U.S. earlier pulled out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty unilaterally but now is attempting to shift the responsibility to Moscow, Putin said.
Putin went on to recall that in 2002, the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from another important agreement, the 1972 Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems.
"Back then, to be honest, they acted straightforwardly, assuming the responsibility for the move and did not even try to pin anything on Russia. Besides, it seemed hard to do at the time. Now, in this case, they withdraw unilaterally again. But as far as we can see, it turns out that there are attempts to shift the responsibility to us," Putin said.
"This stance is supported by nothing but nonetheless, such attempts are being made," Putin added.
Macron said earlier on November 28 that the Russian proposal of a moratorium on any deployment of shorter- and intermediate-range missiles in Europe should not be accepted at the moment, adding that it still could be a basis for further discussions.