It was a milestone in disarmament when Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan signed the INF agreement in 1987. However, after the US canceled the treaty and Russia withdrew, the agreement ended this year. Now, the former Soviet president Gorbachev, the current tensions between Moscow and the West with great concern.
"As long as there are weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons, the world is in dire straits," he said in an interview with the British BBC. Therefore, it is necessary that all states commit themselves to destroy their nuclear weapons. "To save us and the world", says Gorbachev.
He had signed in 1987 with the then US President Reagan the deal for nuclear disarmament in the middle distance area and thus helped to end the Cold War. The INF Treaty banned land-based missiles and cruise missiles with a range of between 500 and 5500 kilometers that can carry nuclear warheads.
Under US President Donald Trump, however, the US had canceled the contract in February of this year, then Russia withdrew from the agreement. Gorbachev warned in this context before a new arms race.
"Cool war, but still war"
When asked how he would describe the current situation, said Gorbachev. It was cool, but still war. "There are battles in various parts of the world, there are shootings, ships and airplanes are sent here and there and everywhere, which is not a situation we want," said Gorbachev.
Also on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the former Secretary General of the Communist Party and ex-President of the Soviet Union said. "There was no bloodshed, and we could not allow that at such a significant event for Germany, for us, for Europe, and for the whole world." So the Soviet Union decided not to intervene.
At the conclusion of his interview with the BBC Gorbachev was asked what advice he would give in the failed Brexit situation. His answer was diplomatic: "You will solve this alone, Britons are very clever."
