The Tu-214ON aircraft, created specifically for performing observation flights under the Open Skies Treaty, will be repurposed. This was announced by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Sergei Shoigu, after visiting the Kazan Aviation Plant.
"In connection with the end of the contract, I have now looked at 2 Open Sky aircraft, they are also being made here. So, now we need to repurpose these planes. And who will do this? Of course, Kazan," the head of the military department said.
The Defense Ministry recalled the Foreign Ministry's earlier statement that Russia did everything to preserve the treaty, and the responsibility for its collapse lies with the United States.
Recall that on May 19, the law on Russia's denunciation of the Open Skies Treaty was unanimously adopted by the State Duma. On June 2, the Federation Council also voted unanimously for him. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the law on June 7. Russia will completely withdraw from the Treaty on December 18, 2021.
The treaty allowed the inspectors to fly over the military facilities of the states included in it, and record on the photo-video equipment what is happening at these facilities.
After the US withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty and Russia's forced similar procedure, Russia's cooperation with Western states in the field of security is limited only by the Vienna Document of 2011 on Confidence-and Security-building Measures. In mid-September, our military carried out inspection flights over the territory of Cyprus and Latvia.
Ivan Petrov
