U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks after a NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels on December 4, 2018 | John Thys/AFP via Getty Images Mike Pompeo says US will quit nuclear treaty in 60 days In ultimatum to Putin, US secretary of state demands compliance with INF accord.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday gave Russia a 60-day deadline to correct alleged violations of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty or he said the U.S. would quit the accord.

Speaking at a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where he attended a meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers, Pompeo said the U.S. has found Russia in "material breach" of the 1987 treaty, under which Washington and Moscow agreed to eliminate all nuclear missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.

European countries have been the primary beneficiaries of the INF treaty given the range of weapons that it abolished, and EU leaders have been particularly unsettled by U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to withdraw from the accord, rather than continue to press Russia for compliance. But Pompeo said Washington's patience has largely run out.

"Russia's actions gravely undermine American national security and that of our allies and partners," Pompeo said. "It makes no sense for the United States to remain in a treaty that constrains our ability to respond to Russia's violations. Russia has reversed the trajectory of diminishing nuclear risk in Europe." In addition to the alleged Russian violations, which the Kremlin has denied, Pompeo said the treaty had also given enormous strategic advantage to other adversaries who are not party to it, including China and Iran.

"While Russia is responsible for the demise of the treaty, many other states including China, North Korea and Iran are not parties to the INF treaty," Pompeo said. "This leaves them free to build all the intermediate-range missiles that they would like. There is no reason the United States should continue to cede this crucial military advantage to revisionist powers like China. In particular, when these weapons are being used to threaten and coerce the United States and its allies in Asia."

"The treaty has been a pillar of Euro-Atlantic security for more than 30 years" — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg

Trump canceled a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 leaders' summit in Buenos Aires, citing Russia's recent naval aggression against Ukraine in the Sea of Azov. Putin, at a press conference in Argentina, lamented Trump's decision to cancel their meeting, and cited the tensions over the INF treaty as one of the many crucial issues that needs to be discussed by the leaders.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking at his own news conference on Tuesday, said the allies are united in concluding the Russia had breached the accord by developing a new ground-launched weapons system.

"All allies have concluded that Russia has developed and fielded a new ground-launched cruise missile system, the SSC-8, also known as the 9M729," Stoltenberg said. "Allies agree that this missile system violates the INF treaty and poses significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security. And they agree that Russia is therefore in material breach of its obligations under the INF treaty. The treaty has been a pillar of Euro-Atlantic security for more than 30 years."

Russia has dismissed claims it is in breach of the arms treaty as "groundless," AFP reported Wednesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron recently issued a renewed call for stronger European military cooperation, including development of an EU army, citing retrenchment by the U.S. and Europe's inability to rely on America for security guarantees. Macron specifically noted Trump's intent to withdraw from the INF treaty as a concern. Trump responded on Twitter by calling Macron's remarks "very insulting."

Pompeo said that the U.S. has given Russia extra time to return to compliance at the request of European allies, and he insisted that the Kremlin could still rescue the INF treaty.

“I have stated our position in no uncertain terms,” Pompeo said. “The United States remains hopeful that our relationship with Russia can get on better footing. With that being said, the burden falls on Russia to make the necessary changes. Only they can save this treaty. If Russia admits its violations, and fully and verifiably comes back into compliance, we of course will welcome that course of action.”

This story has been updated to include reaction from Russia.