Russia missile tests violated treaty, says US

WASHINGTON — In an escalation of tensions, the Obama administration has accused Russia of conducting tests in violation of a 1987 nuclear missile treaty, calling the breach “a very serious matter” and going public with allegations that have simmered for some time.

The treaty confrontation comes at a highly strained time between United States President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s support for separatists in Ukraine and Mr Putin granting asylum to National Security Agency whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

An administration official said Mr Obama wrote to Mr Putin on Monday. The finding was included in a State Department annual report on compliance with arms control treaties released yesterday.

The US says Russia tested a new ground-launched cruise missile, breaking the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty that former President Ronald Reagan signed with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

The accord helped seal the end of the Cold War and has been regarded as a cornerstone of US and Russian arms control efforts. Moscow officials say they have looked into the allegations and consider the matter closed.

Two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said the US is prepared to hold high-level discussions on the issue immediately and wants assurances that Russia will comply with the treaty requirements in future.

The New York Times first reported the US move on Monday evening.

In raising the issue now, the US appears to be placing increased pressure on Russia and trying to further isolate it from the international community. The European Union and Washington plan to announce new sanctions against Moscow this week in the face of US evidence that it has continued to assist separatist forces in Ukraine.

The formal finding comes in the wake of US congressional pressure to confront Russia over allegations of cheating on the treaty. The accord banned all US and Russian land-based ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 480km and 5,470km.

The officials said the Obama administration has informed Congress and US allies of its decision to seek Russian compliance. AGENCIES