Mikhail Gorbachev: The US wants to gain absolute military superiority

Mikhail Gorbachev, who signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, blamed the United States for its collapse.

“The reasons behind the US decision to withdraw from the treaty are not the ones cited by American leaders, but something completely different: the US desire to free itself from any restrictions in the sphere of armaments and to gain absolute military superiority,” he wrote in a column for Vedomosti .

Gorbachev welcomes the efforts of European countries to save the INF Treaty and addresses the Americans, "especially the members of Congress - Republicans and Democrats": "I regret that the acute domestic political situation that has developed in the United States in recent years has led to a virtual breakdown in dialogue between our countries on the entire agenda, including nuclear weapons issues. It is time to overcome inter-party differences and begin a serious conversation. I am confident that Russia will be ready for it.

New ideas are needed that would help move relations between Russia and America from a dead stop. The role of the expert community is great here <…> The main thing I want to call for is a serious shift in the thinking of politicians."

The INF Treaty was signed in 1987. The United States began the process of withdrawing from the agreement on February 2, 2019. Russia responded in kind. Washington accused Moscow of violating the Treaty due to the 9M729 missile. The Russian Defense Ministry says it does not violate the INF Treaty.