Donald Trump appears set to end more than three decades of efforts with Russia to cut nuclear arsenals. The US president intends to suspend US obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty before withdrawing fully in six months, Nick Wadhams and Margaret Talev report. The US accuses Russia of violating the 1987 treaty’s ban on land-based missiles with a range of 500-5,500 kilometers (300-3,500 miles). Russia denies the claim and President Vladimir Putin has warned of the risk of a ‘nuclear catastrophe’ if the global system of deterrence collapses. Russia’s eager to save the INF treaty, even as the Trump administration shows no sign it wants to.

Source: Hindustan Times February 01, 2019 12:22 UTC