Russia has withdrawn from a longstanding moratorium on missile deployment, citing US and NATO’s anti-Russian policy. Former President Dmitry Medvedev blamed NATO for the move, stating that it will lead to further steps. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, but the US withdrew from the treaty in 2019.
The moratorium was initially floated by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in December, citing alleged “destabilizing actions” by the US and NATO. The conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on deploying similar missiles have disappeared, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
This move comes amid tensions with President Donald Trump, who had goaded Medvedev about the US moving towards war with Moscow. In response, Trump announced the redeployment of two nuclear submarines to “appropriate regions” closer to Moscow.
The Kremlin has downplayed Medvedev’s comments on nuclear issues, stating that Russia approaches such topics with caution and holds a responsible position.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/russia-drops-missile-deployment-moratorium-amid-tensions-trump-admin