CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Inspection of INF missile sites continued until May 31, 2001, as stipulated by the 13-year inspection agreement within the treaty. After this period, the United States and Russia continued to share national technical means of verification and notifications to ensure that each state maintained compliance.

Detailed explanation-2: -Signed in 1987, the INF Treaty dramatically helped reduce nuclear threats and stabilize the arms race for thirty-two years, by banning and eliminating all US and Russian ground-launched missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers––a grand total of 2,692 missiles.

Detailed explanation-3: -Under the INF Treaty, the United States and Russia cannot possess, produce or flight-test a ground-launched cruise missile with a range capability of 500 to 5,500 kilometres, or possess or produce launchers of such missiles.

Detailed explanation-4: -The INF Treaty prohibited all U.S. and Soviet missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.

Detailed explanation-5: -Both Washington and Moscow cast the extension as a victory, saying it would provide stability and transparency. The United States and Russia have finalised an agreement to extend until 2026 a treaty limiting their stockpiles of nuclear weapons.