Russia Ends Moratorium on Missile Deployment Amid Tensions with the US

Russia announced it will no longer adhere to a self-imposed moratorium on intermediate-range missiles, citing US actions. This decision follows the US repositioning of nuclear submarines closer to Russia, escalating Cold War-era tensions. The move comes after the US withdrew from the INF Treaty in 2019.

Russia declared on Monday its intention to abandon a self-imposed moratorium on deploying intermediate-range missiles. The decision was prompted by recent moves by the United States, including President Donald Trump's orders to reposition nuclear submarines closer to Russian territory, intensifying tensions between the two nations.

The announcement marks a significant shift since the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, signed in 1987, banned the deployment of missile launchers and missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km. The US withdrawal from the INF agreement in 2019 had already strained relations, and Russia's latest decision underscores escalating threats.

The Russian Foreign Ministry cited Western actions as creating a 'direct threat' to its security, prompting Russia to respond. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia is now free to deploy missiles in response to perceived NATO provocations near its borders, maintaining the nation's defensive stance amid mounting geopolitical tensions.