Russia says it has ‘no restrictions’ now on intermediate-range missile deployment
Russia said on Tuesday that it would no longer place any limits on where it deploys intermediate-range missiles that can carry nuclear warheads.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was speaking a day after Russia said it was lifting what it called a unilateral moratorium on deploying intermediate-range missiles, saying this was a forced response to moves by the U.S. and its allies.
“Russia no longer has any restrictions on this matter, Russia no longer considers itself limited by anything,” Peskov told a daily briefing.
“Russia considers itself entitled, if necessary, to take appropriate measures, to take appropriate steps.”
President Vladimir Putin said last week that the new intermediate-range hypersonic missile called the Oreshnik had gone into serial production and been delivered to the armed forces.
On Monday, Russian former President Dmitry Medvedev blamed NATO countries for the abandonment of a moratorium on short- and medium-range nuclear missiles and said Moscow would take further steps in response.
“The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement on the withdrawal of the moratorium on the deployment of medium- and short-range missiles is the result of NATO countries’ anti-Russian policy,” Medvedev posted in English on X.
“This is a new reality all our opponents will have to reckon with. Expect further steps.”
