Russian Foreign Ministry allows collapse of Open Skies Treaty after US withdrawal

The open sky treaty may fall apart due to the domino effect as a result of the fact that after the United States leaves it, other countries may also withdraw from this agreement. This was announced on July 4 by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, RIA Novosti quoted him as saying. We admit that the domino effect is possible, and that the countries most ardently supporting the United States on various issues can consider this possibility under pressure from Washington, the deputy foreign minister said. He also pointed out that the Russian side would not want such a development of events, since in this case this agreement will inevitably collapse. At the same time, Ryabkov noted that during the video conference of the countries parties to the treaty, which is to be held on July 6, and where the US withdrawal will become the main topic, the American side is unlikely to change its decision, and therefore Moscow is considering all options for an answer. By and large, the situation depends on how other countries behave, and to what extent the current parties to the treaty will show responsibility for its fate, realize not merely declaratively but demonstrate in practice that they are concerned about the European security situation, that they do not go about those in Washington, for whom the destruction of the architecture in the field of arms control has become the main task, the diplomat noted. Recall, as the news agency reported, earlier US President Donald Trump said that the United States withdraws from the Open Skies Treaty, signed in 1992 and began to operate in 2002, as Russia allegedly does not comply with its obligations under it.