Russia has announced it will no longer observe self-imposed limits under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, marking a sharp escalation in tensions with the United States amid growing geopolitical friction.
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the decision on Tuesday, signalling Moscow’s intention to deploy short- and intermediate-range nuclear missiles. The move comes against the backdrop of sanctions, intensified nuclear rhetoric, and a standoff over global oil trade.
Moscow stated it “no longer considers itself bound” by its earlier self-restrictions under the 1987 treaty, which originally banned nuclear-capable missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres.
The Kremlin cited the deployment of intermediate-range missiles by the US in Europe and Asia, along with the stationing of American nuclear submarines in undisclosed locations, as justification.
The announcement directly raises the threat level for NATO member states in Europe and for countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Moscow has warned that planned US missile deployments in countries such as the Philippines and Germany are “hostile moves” undermining Russian security.
Signed during the Cold War between Washington and the former Soviet Union, the INF Treaty was a key arms control agreement that significantly reduced the risk of a rapid nuclear escalation in Europe.
The United States withdrew in 2019, accusing Russia of violations — a claim Moscow denied, while pledging not to deploy banned missiles unless the US did so first. That pledge has now been revoked.
This latest breakdown in arms control follows a series of confrontations between the US and Russia. Last week, US President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping new sanctions on Moscow, including threats to penalise countries such as India and China that continue to purchase Russian oil.
Trump gave Russian President Vladimir Putin until August 8, to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, warning of “broader consequences” if he refused. He also disclosed that two US nuclear submarines had been repositioned for combat readiness.
India, a major buyer of Russian crude, has pushed back strongly against the US measures. The Ministry of External Affairs described the tariffs — including a 25 per cent levy on Indian goods — as “unjustified and unreasonable” and pledged to protect India’s economic and national interests.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar criticised what he called Western “hypocrisy”, noting that the US and EU still import certain Russian commodities even as they target others for doing the same.
Since the EU banned most Russian oil imports in January 2023, China, India, and Turkey have emerged as the largest buyers of Russian energy. China has imported about $219.5 billion worth of oil, gas, and coal, followed by India at $133.4 billion and Turkey at $90.3 billion.
India’s Russian oil purchases have risen from less than 1 pc before the Ukraine conflict to more than a third of its total imports — a shift that Western powers initially encouraged to stabilise global markets.
The Kremlin has warned that the US approach risks slowing economic growth, disrupting supply chains, and fragmenting the global economy.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused European NATO members of “uncontrolled militarisation” following the bloc’s push to raise defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP.
Russia’s abandonment of the INF Treaty has fuelled fears of a renewed Cold War-style arms race. With nuclear-capable assets being deployed by both sides, sanctions piling up, and communication channels between Moscow and Washington strained, experts warn of an increased risk of miscalculation.
As Trump’s August 8, deadline approaches, the focus will be on whether Moscow responds to the ceasefire ultimatum.
Until then, the collapse of yet another landmark nuclear agreement points to a more unstable global order — one where deterrence is shaped not by diplomacy, but by missiles on hair-trigger alert.
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