Russia no longer considers itself bound by a missile treaty

Moscow, August 5.- Moscow believes it has the right, if necessary, to take measures to deploy short- and medium-range ground-based missiles, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday, commenting on recent statements by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"Russia no longer has any restrictions in this matter. Russia no longer considers itself limited by anything. Therefore, Russia considers itself entitled, if necessary, to take appropriate measures", he told reporters.

This Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Moscow no longer self-imposes restrictions on the deployment of short and medium range missiles because "the situation is developing towards the deployment" of US ballistic missiles of this type in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

As a result of such actions by the West, near the Russian borders appears and intensifies the potential for "destabilizing missiles that pose a direct threat to the security of our country", the statement says. "In general, this development of events has a serious negative impact and detrimental consequences for regional and global stability, including a dangerous increase in tension between the nuclear powers", it said.

Following the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Missile Treaty (INF), which significantly contributed to nuclear disarmament, Russia continued to respect it unilaterally over the years. The Foreign Ministry stated that, as a result of Washington's actions, the INF Treaty ceased to be in force in 2019. (Text and photo: RT)