Destroy new missile system

The United States yesterday called on Russia to destroy a new cruise missile system which it said was a "direct and continuing violation" of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, and accused Moscow of destabilising global security.

Robert Wood, US disarmament ambassador, said the system was capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads and represented a "potent and direct threat to Europe and Asia" as it had a range of 500 to 1,500 kilometres.

The United States last week rejected a Russian offer to save the landmark INF treaty that keeps nuclear missiles out of Europe because it could not be properly verified, setting the stage for Washington to withdraw from the pact next month.

There was no immediate response from the Russian delegation at the 65-member state Geneva forum, which opened its 2019 session.

Meanwhile, the European Union imposed chemical weapons sanctions on nine Russian and Syrian officials yesterday, including the chief of the powerful GRU military intelligence agency.

The EU blamed the Russians -- two agents and the head and the deputy head of the GRU -- for the "possession, transport and use" of the nerve agent used in the attack in Salisbury, England last March.