ASHGABAT (Ruptly) — Moscow has put forward numerous initiatives to replace the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated in Ashgabat on Wednesday after talks with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov.

Lavrov said that since there has not been any response to Russia’s proposals, President Vladimir Putin instructed him and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu “to calmly wait when and if our western partners are ready to respond to the proposals on strategic stability issues that had been sent to them.”

“The Americans suspended their participation in this treaty, so did we”, Lavrov concluded.

On 1 February, US Secretary of State Pompeo justified Washington’s decision to suspend its obligations under the historic treaty, triggering the six-month withdrawal process, by yet again accusing Russia of violating the agreement.