Russia consistently supports the formation of a system of equal and indivisible security in the Asia-Pacific region (APR), as well as for strengthening cooperation based on the principles of international law, including respect for sovereignty, equality and consideration of each other's interests.
This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the 16th East Asian Summit, which was held via video link.
Putin drew attention to the fact that "with the termination of the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-range Missiles, the Asia-Pacific region was faced with the possibility of the appearance of these strike weapons in its vast space, and, accordingly, with the prospect of a new round of the arms race."
"Realizing the danger of such a development, Russia, as you know, announced a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of medium-range and shorter-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific region and other regions of the world and called for a serious conversation on this issue with all interested states," he recalled.
"This Russian proposal remains in force, and its relevance is even growing," Putin stated.
