August 5, 2025 — In a dramatic escalation of geopolitical tensions, Russia has officially abandoned its self-imposed restrictions under the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, citing the growing threat posed by the West’s missile deployments and U.S. pressure amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that “conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium have disappeared,” directly blaming the U.S. and NATO’s destabilizing missile buildup for threatening Russian security.
This decision follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent directive to position two nuclear submarines in strategic regions near Russia, and comes as part of an increasingly confrontational narrative between Washington and Moscow.
“The West’s build-up of destabilizing missile potentials creates a direct threat to the security of our country,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a strongly-worded statement.
“We are no longer bound by the outdated INF Treaty obligations.”
Medvedev Issues Sharp Warning
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now Deputy Chairman of the Security Council and one of the Kremlin’s most hawkish voices, backed the decision and warned of “further steps” in response to Western provocations.
“This is a new reality all our opponents will have to reckon with,” Medvedev wrote.
“Expect further steps.”
Medvedev has recently engaged in a fiery social media exchange with President Trump, reflecting deteriorating relations between the two nuclear powers. While he didn’t detail the next steps, analysts expect Moscow may soon deploy short- and medium-range nuclear-capable missiles in both Europe and Asia-Pacific regions—an act likely to trigger further Western countermeasures.
Trump’s Submarine Deployment Raises Stakes
Last week, President Trump confirmed he had ordered two U.S. nuclear submarines to move closer to Russian borders, calling it a direct response to Medvedev’s comments about the growing risks of nuclear confrontation.
“We are acting to ensure deterrence and protect our allies,” President Trump stated.
“Medvedev should be careful with his words.”
Background: INF Treaty Collapse
The INF Treaty, signed in 1987 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, had eliminated all ground-launched nuclear and conventional missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km. The U.S. exited the treaty in 2019, alleging Russian violations—a claim Moscow denied.
Since then, both sides had observed informal moratoriums. However, with rising hostilities over Ukraine, global military posturing has returned to Cold War-era intensity.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously warned that Moscow would respond to the U.S. placing land-based missiles in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. The new Russian announcement signals that moment has arrived.
What’s Next?
With both nations discarding INF-era arms control protocols, experts warn of a renewed arms race, particularly in Europe and East Asia, where regional stability could be upended by missile deployments on both sides.
Diplomatic efforts are expected to falter in the current climate, especially as the Ukraine war and economic sanctions continue to fuel mistrust.
Global Concern
This development has raised alarms worldwide. NATO is likely to hold emergency consultations, while China, which has remained relatively quiet, may reassess its own missile deployments as the Asia-Pacific region becomes increasingly volatile.
