Moscow will take symmetrical measures in response to the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (IMF) only when the U.S. begins deploying new missiles in Europe and Asia, said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu in an interview with Russia 24 TV channel.

“We will not be there until they [the US] get to Asia and the Asia-Pacific region,” he added.

At the same time, Shoygu said that Moscow is ready to continue dialogue with Washington on medium and shorter-range missiles. “We didn’t just offer, we opened some doors in every way, then others. We showed openness and transparency in all our steps and actions,” said the Russian Defense Minister.

According to Shoygu, the U.S. was simply looking for a reason to withdraw from the IMF. He also accused that the U.S. of allocation funds for new missile development even before Washington withdrew from the INF.

(C) UAWire