Russia To Produce A Medium Range Nuclear Missile
WHITFIELD: All right welcome back. Russia says it is pulling out of a key Cold War era nuclear treaty and will begin developing a new intermediate missile. Russian President Vladimir Putin characterized the announcement as a tit-for-tat against the U.S. for saying it was also done with the agreement. The announcements are sparking fears of a renewed arms race and a showdown between the two countries. CNN's Oren Liebermann is in Moscow for us. So Oren, what more do we know about the missile that Moscow is threatening to build?</s>OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's worth pointing out that before Russian President Vladimir Putin talked about this missile, he said there should be no arms race and there will be no arms race. Describing his decision, Russia's decision to withdraw from the INF, the arms control treaty, as a tit-for-tat as you pointed out with the U.S since the Russians were expecting the U.S. either suspend or outrun withdraw from the treaty. And this was their response doing saying the same thing, essentially saying look, if the U.S isn't going to abide by the terms of the treaty, then there's no reason for us to do so either. Shortly after saying there won't be an arms race, Putin then talked about the missile that Russia would further develop. Russia currently has a missile called the caliber. It is a sea-base medium range hypersonic missile. That missile falls within the limits of the INF treaty. But, Putin said they would be developing a ground- based version of the same missile which would be a blatant violation of that treaty. Russia here it seems is signaling that if this treaty's not going to be held up anymore on the U.S end, we're not going to hold it up as well and we'll continue to developing weapons. Russia also saying that if the U.S is going to do research in technological development when it comes to missiles, Russia will do the same. So, as he says there won't be an arms race, there certainly seems to be an investment in arms on the Russian side. Fredricka, it's also worth pointing out that after this, if this falls apart and is not saved within the next six months in some sort of fashion over the course of the next 180 days which is the U. S. deadline, that really leaves only one more major arms control treaty as the new start treaty and the deadline on that is coming up in three years.</s>WHITFIELD: Oren Lieberman, thank you so much in Moscow. All right, still ahead, playing both sides a new lawsuit alleges a powerful pharmaceutical giant both contributed to the opioid epidemic all while profiting off treatments to those who became addicted. Details about the case is coming up.