Russia openly acknowledges constructing nuclear missiles while under a ban on deployment, openly bragging about a vast arsenal.
In a move that could escalate tensions, Russia has announced the lifting of its unilateral moratorium on deploying intermediate- and shorter-range nuclear missiles. This decision comes in response to the actions of the United States and its allies, who are reportedly moving towards placing their own intermediate- and shorter-range ground-based missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, signed in 1987, had banned the deployment of ground-based ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 311 miles and 3,418 miles (500 and 5,500 kilometers). However, the treaty was terminated by the U.S. in 2019 during Donald Trump's presidency, with accusations of Russian violations, which Moscow denied.
The Russian Foreign Ministry claims that it no longer considers itself bound by self-restrictions on the deployment of similar arms. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Russia's moratorium on such missile systems was practically no longer feasible due to the actions by the U.S. and others.
Russia now holds a significant stockpile of intermediate- and shorter-range nuclear missiles, a fact confirmed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Russia "reserves freedom of action" in deploying these missiles and could act if NATO's activities near its borders require it.
It's important to note that the moratorium applied only to deployment and did not mention any halt to research and development activities. During the moratorium on deployment, Russia continued developing these missile systems.
The risk of a new arms race in Europe and Asia has grown due to the absence of the INF Treaty and the escalating situation between the two sides. The Russian Foreign Office describes Western moves as a "direct threat" to Russian security that demands countermeasures.
In a separate development, U.S. President Donald Trump recently decided to move two nuclear submarines closer to Russian waters, a move that could further strain relations between the two nations.
As the situation continues to evolve, both countries are preparing for the possible deployment of missile systems that had been restricted for more than three decades. The U.S. and Russia must find a way to de-escalate tensions and work towards maintaining global peace and security.
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