Russia ends moratorium on intermediate-range missiles, fueling arms race fears

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Moscow will end its moratorium on deploying intermediate and shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles.

He cited the United States’ deployment of similar weapons “in various regions of the world,” effectively dismantling one of the last vestiges of a key Cold War arms control framework.

Why it matters

The move, long hinted at by Russian leaders, may further stoke fears of a renewed arms race involving the world’s two largest nuclear powers, Russia and the United States, along with China. It also highlights the accelerating erosion of decades-old treaties aimed at limiting nuclear arsenals and reducing the risk of a nuclear conflict.

Details

• INF Treaty breakdown: Originally signed by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987, the INF Treaty eliminated a whole class of ground-based ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 (310.6 miles) and 5,500 kilometers. The United States withdrew from the treaty in 2019, alleging Russian violations.

• Russia’s new stance: In response to U.S. missile tests and deployments, Russia placed a moratorium on developing and deploying the once-banned weapons, but Lavrov now says the moratorium is “no longer practically viable.”
• New START: When asked if Russia might exit the New START treaty—which expires in 2026—Lavrov said there are currently “no conditions” for strategic dialogue with Washington.

• Recent missile tests: Russia fired a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, known as “Oreshnik,” at Ukraine in late November. President Vladimir Putin framed this move as a direct response to Ukraine’s use of U.S. and British missiles against Russian targets.

Between the lines

Both Moscow and Washington bemoan the collapse of the intricate network of arms control treaties, yet each blames the other’s alleged treaty breaches. Tensions remain at post-Cold War lows, jeopardizing future negotiations and increasing the likelihood of an arms race.

What’s next

As the INF Treaty fades into history and the New START agreement faces an uncertain future, experts worry about a broader global ripple effect. With few diplomatic channels open, Russia’s latest announcement may prompt further missile deployments and additional countermeasures by other nuclear-armed states, placing existing stability at increasing risk.