Tue Aug 05 12:32:07 UTC 2025: ## Russia Officially Withdraws from Key Nuclear Treaty, Citing US Deployment Threat
**Moscow, Russia** – Russia announced on Monday its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, a landmark agreement signed in 1987 that banned the deployment of short and medium-range missiles. The move raises concerns about a renewed arms race reminiscent of the Cold War era.
The Russian Foreign Ministry attributed the decision to the perceived threat posed by the deployment of US missile platforms in Europe, the Philippines, and Australia. According to the ministry, these deployments eliminate the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons by Russia.
“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 ministry said in a statement.
The US had previously withdrawn from the INF treaty in 2019 under the Trump administration, citing Russian non-compliance. Washington accused Moscow of violating the agreement through the development and deployment of the Novator 9M729 missile system.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, currently deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, echoed the Foreign Ministry’s sentiment, blaming NATO countries’ “anti-Russian policy” for the decision.
The announcement comes amidst heightened tensions between Russia and the United States, particularly regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. Recent weeks have seen escalating rhetoric and actions from both sides, including the repositioning of US nuclear submarines in response to comments made by Medvedev.
Despite the withdrawal, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged caution regarding “nuclear rhetoric,” emphasizing the need for careful consideration.
The INF treaty, signed by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, was a significant step towards ending the Cold War arms race. It prohibited the possession, production, or testing of ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. Over 2,600 missiles were destroyed as part of the agreement.
With the INF treaty now defunct and uncertainty surrounding the future of the New START treaty, the international community is bracing for a potential escalation in strategic arms competition between Russia and the United States.
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