Russia has deployed a cruise missile in violation of a Cold War-era arms control treaty, a Trump administration official said Tuesday, a development that complicates the outlook for U.S.-Russia relations amid turmoil on the White House national security team. U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that the missile became operational late last year, said an administration official, who wasn't authorized to publicly discuss the matter and demanded anonymity. The New York Times, which was first to report the missile deployment, said the Russians have two battalions of the prohibited cruise missile. "If true, Russia's deployment of an illegal ground-launched cruise missile represents a very troubling development and should be roundly condemned," Tierney said. At the same time, the Pentagon developed options to counter Russian cruise missile moves, some of which would have involved bold military action.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 15, 2017 01:03 UTC