Russia Warns of Missile Deployment Shift as US and NATO Tensions Escalate

The Russian government is signaling a significant shift in its defense strategy as tensions with the United States escalate over the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Sunday that the country may abandon its moratorium on deploying intermediate- and shorter-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, accusing the United States of “arrogantly” ignoring warnings from both Russia and China.

“It is obvious today that, for example, our moratorium on the deployment of intermediate- and shorter-range missiles is already practically unviable and will have to be abandoned,” Lavrov told state news agency RIA Novosti, referring to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

Signed in 1987 under the Ronald Reagan administration, the INF Treaty was part of a series of arms control accords that shaped the post-Cold War Euro-Atlantic security framework. The treaty prohibited the United States and the Soviet Union from possessing, producing, or test-flying ground-launched nuclear cruise and ballistic missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers (approximately 300 to 3,400 miles).

In 2019, the United States withdrew from the treaty, citing Russian violations involving the 9M729 missile system, referred to by NATO as the SSC-8. Washington argued that these missiles exceed the range limits set by the treaty, posing security risks to Western Europe.

Following the treaty’s collapse, Russia declared a unilateral moratorium on deploying new missiles in Europe but now suggests it may reverse this decision.

Lavrov hinted that Russia would respond proportionately to actions by the United States and NATO, referencing recent tests of Russia’s hypersonic medium-range system, Oreshnik.

“The recent test of the latest hypersonic medium-range system Oreshnik, carried out by us in combat conditions, convincingly demonstrated our capabilities and determination to implement compensatory measures,” Lavrov added.

Earlier in July, the United States announced plans to station advanced missile systems in Germany by 2026, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 systems, and developmental hypersonic weapons. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed the move, describing it as consistent with his government’s security strategy.

Russian officials, however, view these actions as provocative. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov warned Berlin of a potential military response, accusing NATO of being “fully involved in the conflict.”

Both Russian and U.S. officials have blamed each other for provoking the current escalation. Some experts believe that the deployment of missiles in Europe, following the collapse of the INF Treaty, could ignite a new arms race.

Russia currently holds the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world, estimated at 6,257 warheads. Moscow maintains the right to use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack, the use of weapons of mass destruction against Russia or its allies, or if the existence of the Russian state is threatened.