US National Security Adviser John Bolton faces two days of high-tension talks in Moscow after President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw from a landmark nuclear weapons treaty.
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Trump's announcement that the United States would leave the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, treaty brought sharp criticism on Sunday from Russian officials and from former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, who signed the treaty in 1987 with President Ronald Reagan.
Trump said Russia has violated terms of the treaty that prohibit the US and Russia from possessing, producing or test-flying ground-launched nuclear cruise missiles with a range of 500 to 5500 kilometres.
Russia has repeatedly denied allegations that it has produced and tested such a missile.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as telling state news agency Tass that leaving the treaty "would be a very dangerous step".
It would "cause the most serious condemnation from all members of the international community who are committed to security and stability", Ryabkov is quoted as saying.
Gorbachev told the Interfax news agency that Washington's desire to "turn back politics" cannot be supported.
"Not only Russia, but also all who cherish the world, especially a world without nuclear weapons, must declare this," Gorbachev was quoted as saying.
Western reaction was mixed.
British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the UK stands "absolutely resolute" with Washington on the issue and called on the Kremlin to "get its house in order", according to the Financial Times.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that Trump's announcement "raises difficult questions for us and Europe", but noted that Russia hasn't cleared up allegations of violating the treaty.
The Kremlin hasn't directly commented on Trump's statement, but spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday that explanations of the American side will be required.
Bolton and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to meet on Tuesday. On Monday, Bolton is due to meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The prospect of withdrawing from the INF adds to the substantial tensions between Washington and Moscow, including allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and sanctions imposed over Russia's involvement in the eastern Ukraine conflict.
The treaty helps protect the security of the US and its allies in Europe and the far East, but has constrained the US from developing new weapons.
The US will begin developing them unless Russia and China agree not to possess or develop the weapons, Trump said. China isn't a party to the pact.
"We'll have to develop those weapons, unless Russia comes to us and China comes to us and they all come to us and say, 'let's really get smart and let's none of us develop those weapons', but if Russia's doing it and if China's doing it, and we're adhering to the agreement, that's unacceptable," Trump said.
Australian Associated Press
