"We have to warn that we cannot and will not ignore the emergence of new US missiles posing a threat to us or to our allies. There should be no doubt that we have the needed tools kit in order to ensure our security and are capable of further enhancing our defense capabilities. However, Russia, like any other sensible country, is not interested in an arms race or new 'missile crises'," Lavrov indicated.
Speaking about the situation with the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, Lavrov indicated that Washington had showed its reluctance to cooperate on the matter.
"We call on [Washington] to abandon blackmailing attempts and cease disseminating evidence-free accusations in favor of constructive joint work to tackle existing mutual concerns."
"We have officially invited [Washington] to begin [this work] in [Russian Defense Minister] Sergei Shoigu's letter to Pentagon Chief [Jim Mattis]; we have also repeatedly offered a professional dialogue on the INF Treaty in contacts between the Foreign Ministry and State Department. There have been no responses so far," Lavrov revealed.