Russia admits building a substantial arsenal of intermediate-range missiles during a moratorium, says Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
Russia has confirmed it continued developing intermediate- and shorter-range nuclear missile systems during a moratorium on their deployment. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told state media that the country now holds a significant stockpile of such weapons.
“When the moratorium was announced, we made it clear that it applied only to deployment, and did not mention any halt to activities,” Ryabkov told Rossiya-1, as quoted by RIA news agency.He added, “So this time was used to develop the appropriate systems and to build a fairly substantial arsenal in this area. As I understand it, we now possess it.”Earlier this month, Russia lifted its unilateral moratorium on deploying these missiles, calling the decision a “forced response” to actions by the United States and its allies.End of a Cold War-era limitThe Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed in 1987 between the United States and the Soviet Union. It banned the deployment of ground-based ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 311 miles and 3,418 miles .The agreement was seen as a major step in reducing tensions between the two powers. Over time, however, relations worsened, and the treaty unraveled.The United States withdrew from the pact in 2019 during Donald Trump’s presidency, accusing Russia of violations — claims that Moscow denied. Without the treaty, both sides were free to develop and deploy these missile systems.Russia says western actions prompted its moveThe Russian Foreign Ministry said its warnings about missile proliferation have been ignored. It claimed that the U.S. and its allies are moving toward placing their own intermediate- and shorter-range ground-based missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific.Because of this, the ministry stated, “…The Russian Foreign Ministry has to attest to the disappearance of any conditions for the preservation of a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar arms and is authorised to state that the Russian Federation does not consider itself anymore bound by relevant self-restrictions approved earlier.”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. Moscow’s Foreign Office described Western moves as a “direct threat” to Russian security that demands countermeasures.Escalation with the United StatesThe announcement follows a recent decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to move two American nuclear submarines closer to Russian waters. Trump posted on Truth Social that this redeployment was a reaction to “extremely provocative statements” by Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and current deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council.The shift marks another point of tension between Washington and Moscow. Both sides appear to be preparing for the possible deployment of missile systems that had been restricted for more than three decades.With the INF Treaty gone and each side blaming the other for escalating the situation, the risk of a new arms race in Europe and Asia has grown.
Military Missile Systems Nato Nuclear Nuclear Missile Nuclear Weapons Russia United States
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