ALBAWABA- Russia announced on Monday that it no longer considers itself bound by its self-imposed moratorium on deploying land-based intermediate- and short-range missiles, citing what it called the "actual deployment" of similar U.S. weapons in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
In a statement published on its official website, the Russian Foreign Ministry said: "Due to the fact that our repeated warnings in this regard have been ignored, and the situation has developed towards the actual deployment of U.S. land-based intermediate and short-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian Federation recognizes that the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium have disappeared."
The move comes just two days after a sharp escalation in rhetoric between Russian Security Council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Medvedev threatened that Russia could target the United States directly, rather than Ukraine, due to Washington’s continued supply of arms to Europe.
His comments drew a swift response from Trump, who ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines near Russian waters, calling Medvedev’s remarks a direct provocation.
Tensions had already been on the rise after Trump, during a recent visit to Scotland and a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stated that Russia should be given just 10–12 days, not 50, to end the war in Ukraine.
The latest developments reflect a deepening standoff between Washington and Moscow, with many analysts warning of a return to Cold War-style posturing that could spiral into direct confrontation.
