Russia says it is no longer bound by missile restrictions of INF treaty

Russia no longer considers itself constrained by any limitations on the deployment of intermediate- and shorter-range missiles and may take necessary measures in this regard, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a briefing on August 5.

“Russia no longer has any limitations in this regard. Russia does not consider itself restricted by anything anymore,” Peskov stated in response to a question from TASS, Caliber.Az quotes. 

According to him, Russia considers itself “entitled to take relevant measures and steps if necessary.”

His remarks follow an August 4 statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry declaring that Moscow no longer views itself bound by self-imposed restrictions under the now-defunct Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The ministry cited changing security conditions and alleged US preparations to deploy similar missile systems in Europe and Asia.

“Moscow no longer considers itself bound by previously adopted self-restrictions,” the ministry said, adding that the US is actively moving toward the deployment of intermediate-range missiles in key regions.

The INF Treaty, signed in 1987 by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, prohibited ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. It led to the elimination of over 2,600 missiles on both sides and was hailed as a major Cold War-era arms control achievement.

However, in 2019, the United States withdrew from the treaty during the first Trump administration, citing Russian violations—specifically the deployment of 9M729 cruise missiles (NATO reporting name: SSC-8). Moscow denied breaching the terms of the agreement.

Although the Foreign Ministry’s statement did not address recent missile usage, Russia’s November deployment of the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile against a Ukrainian city involved a system with a range that violates the I.N.F. Treaty.

By Sabina Mammadli