WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- The Trump administration announced on Friday that the United States is withdrawing from a landmark nuclear arms control pact with Russia, a move seen as exacerbating the risk of an international arms race.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the announcement at the State Department, citing Russia's violation of the deal which he believes "put the United States at a military disadvantage." Moscow has repeatedly denied Washington's accusations.

Pompeo told reporters that the United States will suspend its compliance to the treaty from Saturday, which will trigger a six-month countdown period leading to a permanent exit from the pact inked in 1987 between the United States and the then-Soviet Union.

U.S. President Donald Trump said later in the day that his country will "move forward with developing our own military response options."

The United States "will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct," said Trump in a statement released by the White House.

Moscow on Friday expressed regret over Washington's intention to pull out of the treaty, calling the move a pre-decided action.

"The Americans' reluctance to hear any arguments, their reluctance to conduct any substantive negotiations, suggests that the decision to dismantle the treaty was made by Washington a long time ago," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov quoted by TASS.

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