Russia voiced strong concern over US plans to deploy weapons that are prohibited under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a stance shared by senior officials at international forums. During a session of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, Konstantin Vorontsov, the deputy head of Russia’s U.N. delegation, highlighted the gravity of the situation. He warned that Western moves bring the world close to a potential confrontation between nuclear powers and stressed the heightened risk that any such deployment could provoke a military tilt in regions far from the Atlantic. Vorontsov stressed that the prospective expansion of the US program, which Washington previously condemned under the INF framework, is a source of significant concern for Moscow. (Source: Russian Foreign Ministry)
Russian officials have repeatedly underscored that the deployment of intermediate and shorter-range missiles would complicate strategic stability in Europe and Asia-Pacific, raising questions about arms control commitments and regional security dynamics. On October 2, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov commented that American-made missiles currently banned by the INF Treaty might appear in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. He added that the West has not responded to Russia’s call for a moratorium on INF deployments, a move Moscow believes would preserve stability while negotiations continue. (Source: Russian Foreign Ministry)
Earlier discussions from Moscow indicated that Russia would factor in the possible Italian, Japanese, or other foreign deployments into its own military planning, stressing that alliance shifts could impact regional deterrence calculations. A senior official from the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that planning guidance would consider all plausible scenarios, including the introduction of INF-banned systems into specific theaters. In Russia’s view, ensuring strategic balance requires attentive monitoring of Washington’s actions and a willingness to pursue dialogue to prevent misinterpretations that could lead to inadvertent escalations. (Source: Russian Foreign Ministry)
The discourse around INF compliance reflects broader concerns about the durability of arms control frameworks in a changing security environment. Washington has challenged Moscow on several points regarding the rigidity of red lines and the interpretation of treaty obligations, while Moscow has reiterated its readiness to engage in constructive talks without compromising its security interests. Analysts point out that the current exchange signals a renewed focus on verification, transparency, and the risk that unilateral moves could erode established norms. The dialogue remains delicate, with both sides urging restraint and reaffirming the desire to prevent a return to a new era of strategic instability. (Source: Russian Foreign Ministry)