The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe had not really worked for years, Deputy FM Sergey Ryabkov has said
Russia’s formal withdrawal from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) will not affect regional security, which has already been damaged by the actions of NATO-affiliated countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said.
In an interview with Russian state newspaper Parlamentskaya Gazeta on Monday, Ryabkov pointed out “paradoxical” the situation regarding the post-Cold War agreement that set limits on the number of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, helicopters and aircraft stationed in Europe.
The treaty, originally signed in 1990, sought to prevent NATO and the now-defunct Warsaw Pact from massing forces for a blitzkrieg-type offensive, and create a military balance between the two.
“The old treaty… has long ceased to correspond to reality,” he said, adding that attempts to update the agreement never quite materialized “because of the United States and other NATO countries, who demanded certain concessions from us.”
Meanwhile, the US-led military bloc expanded and circumvented restrictions imposed by the treaty, Ryabkov said, adding that by suspending but not leaving the CFE in 2007, Moscow left the door open to restoring the arms control agreement’s viability.
“Western countries had more than enough time to show common sense. But they preferred to follow the path of further NATO expansion and confrontation with Russia.” he said.
In addition, Sweden and Finland’s push to join NATO amid the Ukraine conflict, which allowed for the deployment of US troops on the Russian border, deprived Moscow of the opportunity to remain part of the agreement, he said.
When asked whether Russia’s withdrawal will negatively affect security in Europe, Ryabkov dismissed the idea.
He added that the move will also dispel the illusions of those who had still hoped that Russia would return to the treaty. “Because of the changed circumstances, the CFE goes against our security interests. This obvious fact will now have to be recognized even in the West.” said Ryabkov.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree ending the CFE. Moscow had partially suspended its participation in the treaty in 2007, accusing NATO members of violating its provisions. In 2015, Russia said it would “stop completely” its participation in the agreement because it saw no purpose in staying.