**Russia Ends Moratorium on Short-Range Missiles, Blaming US for Escalation**
In a move that further escalates tensions between Moscow and Washington, Russia has announced it is ending its unilateral moratorium on the deployment of short- and intermediate-range missiles. The Russian Foreign Ministry made this announcement on August 4, citing recent actions by the United States as the reason.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was a landmark agreement between the US and Soviet Union in the 1980s that banned the development and deployment of ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 1,000-5,500 km. The US withdrew from the treaty in 2019, and Russia has since maintained that it would not deploy such missiles unless Washington did the same.
However, with the US now moving forward with plans to deploy land-based medium- and short-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, Moscow claims it is no longer bound by its own moratorium. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that “the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons have disappeared.”
**Tensions Between US and Russia Escalate**
This latest development comes as tensions between the US and Russia continue to escalate. President Donald Trump has recently toughened his rhetoric towards Moscow, particularly after a dramatic escalation in aerial strikes against Ukraine throughout the spring and summer.
Trump announced on July 29 that tariffs on Russian exports would be implemented within 10 days if the Kremlin failed to end its war in Ukraine. The deadline for a peace deal is now set at August 8. In response to threatening rhetoric from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Trump also said that the US has moved its nuclear submarines closer to Russia.
**History of INF Treaty and Its Collapse**
The collapse of the INF treaty was seen as a significant blow to international arms control efforts. The US formally withdrew from the treaty in 2019, citing Russian noncompliance and a Chinese arms buildup. The treaty had originally banned both nations from deploying missiles with ranges between 1,000-5,500 km and 500-1,000 kilometers.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has previously stated that Moscow would reassess its commitment to the moratorium due to “destabilizing actions” from the US. In December 2024, Lavrov said that “the U.S. has arrogantly ignored the warnings of Russia and China and in practice has moved on to the deployment of weapons of this class in various regions of the world.”
**What’s Next?**
The ending of Russia’s moratorium on short-range missiles is likely to further heighten tensions between Moscow and Washington. As the deadline for a peace deal approaches, it remains to be seen how these developments will play out.
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