The Kremlin has blamed Trump’s deployment of nuclear submarines and “the actions of Western countries” for creating a “direct threat” to Russia’s security.
The INF Treaty, signed in 1987 by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and US President Ronald Reagan, aimed to eliminate an entire class of ground-launched nuclear missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres. It effectively banned short- and medium-range nuclear weapons, significantly reducing the risk of nuclear confrontation in Europe.
US already withdraw from the treaty
Although the United States withdrew from the treaty in 2019 during Trump’s first term, citing alleged Russian violations, Moscow had, at the time, refrained from deploying such missiles, stating it would only do so if Washington acted first.
Following the US exit, Russia declared a self-imposed moratorium, choosing not to position INF-range missiles unless provoked by American deployments.
That stance has now shifted. Russia’s latest move comes after Trump announced that two US Navy nuclear submarines had been deployed to “appropriate regions” near Russia, responding to what he called “highly provocative” remarks by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
What did the Russian Foreign Ministry say?
In a statement reported by Al Jazeera, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that evolving security dynamics in Europe and the Asia-Pacific have forced Moscow to reconsider its position on missile deployments.
“Since the situation is developing towards the actual deployment of US-made land-based medium- and short-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian Foreign Ministry notes that the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons have disappeared,” the statement read as quoted by Al Jazeera.
Soon after, Medvedev blamed NATO’s “anti-Russian policy” for the decision and warned that Russia would take “further steps” in response.
