In an escalation of tensions, the Obama administration accused Russia on
Monday 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
President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin over
Russia's intervention in Ukraine and Putin's grant of asylum to National
Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.
An administration official said Obama notified Putin of the U.S.
determination in a letter Monday. The finding will be included in a
State Department annual report on compliance with arms control treaties
that will be released Tuesday.
The U.S. says Russia tested a new ground-launched cruise missile,
breaking the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty that President
Ronald Reagan signed with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Russian
officials say they have looked into the allegations and consider the
matter closed.
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