Soviet arms chief says no to unilateral missile cuts

August 20, 1982

Soviet Defense Minister Dmitri F. Ustinov said Thursday Moscow would not agree to unilateral cuts in its medium-range nuclear arsenal in negotiations with the United States.

He said in an interview with the official news agency, Tass, that President Reagan's ''zero option'' proposal at the Soviet-American arms reduction talks was clearly designed to torpedo reaching an agreement. The Geneva talks on intermediate nuclear forces have been in recess since July 20.