Russia has announced that it will no longer abide by a self-imposed moratorium on deploying nuclear-capable intermediate-range missiles, citing increasing threats from the United States and its allies.
In a statement issued Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the move was in response to Washington’s plans to deploy intermediate-range weapons, including Typhoon and Dark Eagle missiles, in Germany starting next year. The ministry said such deployments create “destabilizing missile potentials” near Russian borders, posing a “direct threat” to national security and global stability.
Trump orders nuclear subs moved after provocative comments by ex-Russian president Medvedev
While no immediate deployment details were shared, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is no longer bound by any restrictions and reserves the right to act accordingly. “Russia believes it has the right to take respective steps if necessary,” Peskov told reporters.
The Foreign Ministry added that any future decisions would be based on an interdepartmental review of U.S. and NATO deployments and the broader international security landscape.
President Vladimir Putin had earlier announced plans to station Russia’s new Oreshnik intermediate-range missiles in Belarus later this year. The missile is reported to have a range covering all of Europe and can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads.
The development follows a recent statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who ordered two U.S. nuclear submarines repositioned in response to remarks by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev had warned against Western ultimatums and described Moscow’s decision to abandon the missile moratorium as a response to NATO’s anti-Russian stance.
Intermediate-range missiles, typically capable of flying between 500 to 5,500 kilometers, were banned under the 1987 INF Treaty. However, both Washington and Moscow withdrew from the pact in 2019, accusing each other of violations. Russia had maintained a voluntary freeze on such deployments until now.
Analysts warn that the latest move could revive Cold War-era tensions and trigger a new arms race, especially in Europe.
Source: Agency