Putin to develop missiles if US leaves Cold war treaty

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday laid out plans for Moscow to develop mid-range missiles banned under a Cold War treaty with the United States if Washington abandons the deal. Washington this month said it would withdraw from the INF within 60 days if Russia did not dismantle missiles that the US claims breach the deal.

Speaking at a defence ministry meeting, Putin said Russia’s seaborne Kalibr and airlaunched Kh-101 cruise missiles -- as well as cutting-edge hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles -- would be converted for ground launch if Washington ditches the INF treaty. “It probably won’t be very difficult to conduct appropriate research and development and put them on the ground if need be,” he said.

Putin also suggested he was open to the idea of other countries joining the INF treaty. Signed in 1987 by then US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the treaty bans groundlaunched missiles with a range of between 500 and 5,500 kilometres. Putin has said about a dozen countries were producing missiles of the type banned by the INF treaty