OREANDA-NEWS  A meeting of the Council NATO - Russia (NRC) under the Treaty on the elimination of intermediate and shorter-range missiles (INF Treaty) with participation of Deputy Minister of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov has begun in Brussels. This was reported on Friday in the press service of the Alliance. Initially, it was reported that the meeting will be held at the level of ambassadors, but on the night of Thursday to Friday it became known that Russia at the meeting will be represented by Ryabkov, who specially arrived in Brussels.

The military structures of NATO is mandated to prepare proposals for defence measures in the event of US withdrawal from the Treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range nuclear forces (INF).

"If this happens (the US will give notice of withdrawal from the Treaty), Russia, however, according to NATO, there are six months to ensure the implementation of obligations under the Treaty in accordance with the requirements of the United States, which is supported by all member countries of the Alliance",-said the Agency interlocutor.

Today, 25 January in Brussels, a meeting of the NATO—Russia Council on the preservation of the INF Treaty. Russia's Deputy foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov is taking part in it. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the Alliance is exploring various options for response if Russia continues to make, to experience or to place cruise missiles 9М729, which, in the opinion of the Americans violate the agreement.

The President of the United States Donald Trump has announced plans to withdraw from the INF Treaty in late October. January 15 in Geneva were closed Russian-American consultations on the fate of the Treaty, but their results were dissatisfied with both sides.

On January 23, Russia invited foreign military attachés and journalists to a briefing, where for the first time revealed some of the tactical and technical characteristics of the ground-based cruise missile 9M729. Representatives of the US and NATO, as well as the UK, France and Germany did not come to the meeting. Later, the us Embassy in Russia reported that this demonstration did not convince Washington.