<p class="title">The United States is to accelerate its development of new cruise and ballistic missile systems following its withdrawal from a nuclear treaty with Russia, the Pentagon said on Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Accusing Russia of "sustained and repeated violations" of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the US had already begun work to develop "mobile, conventional, ground-launched cruise and ballistic missile systems."</p>.<p class="bodytext">As the United States had "scrupulously complied" with its obligations to the 1987 treaty until its formal withdrawal, "these programs are in the early stages," Esper said in a statement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Now that we have withdrawn, the Department of Defense will fully pursue the development of these ground-launched conventional missiles as a prudent response to Russia's actions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The Department of Defense will work closely with our allies as we move forward in implementing the National Defense Strategy, protecting our national defence and building partner capacity," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Moscow has said that Washington is making a "serious mistake" pulling out of the treaty, insisting that the US had abandoned the agreement for its own gain rather than because of alleged Russian violations. </p>
<p class="title">The United States is to accelerate its development of new cruise and ballistic missile systems following its withdrawal from a nuclear treaty with Russia, the Pentagon said on Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Accusing Russia of "sustained and repeated violations" of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the US had already begun work to develop "mobile, conventional, ground-launched cruise and ballistic missile systems."</p>.<p class="bodytext">As the United States had "scrupulously complied" with its obligations to the 1987 treaty until its formal withdrawal, "these programs are in the early stages," Esper said in a statement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Now that we have withdrawn, the Department of Defense will fully pursue the development of these ground-launched conventional missiles as a prudent response to Russia's actions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The Department of Defense will work closely with our allies as we move forward in implementing the National Defense Strategy, protecting our national defence and building partner capacity," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Moscow has said that Washington is making a "serious mistake" pulling out of the treaty, insisting that the US had abandoned the agreement for its own gain rather than because of alleged Russian violations. </p>