Russia has again slammed the United States for being in breach of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) after the US announced last Friday that it's suspending all obligations under the treaty in 180 days, during which time Moscow till has a chance to return to compliance. But this week in an apparent continuing tit-for-tat blame game, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) summoned the US military attaché in Moscow to issue its own ultimatum.  

The MoD reportedly told the US diplomatic representative that the US is in breach, and that it could return to compliance through elimination of its cruise missile launchpads and attack drones — the latter which the Russians said fit the definition of a "land-based cruise missile" under a different form, in accord with the Reagan-era deal.

Tomahawk launch

The message was delivered on Wednesday via a treaty-related memo, the contents of which were first reported by RT as follows:

The Russian side suggested that the Americans "return to strict compliance" with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty before it expires in six months.

In order to achieve this, the US must "destroy its Mk-41 universal launchers, designed for launching Tomahawk cruise missiles and target missiles," which in fact have the same specifications as ground-based medium- and shorter-range ballistic missiles prohibited by the INF.

The American attack drones should also be disposed of because they fall under the definition of "land-based cruise missile" in accordance with the deal, the ministry added.