Changes

A significant additional factor is the stated intention by several US allies to aquire ground-launched INF-range missiles from Washington and / or develop their own missiles with a range from 500 to 5500 km, or to expand their existing national arsenals of such weapons. Obviously, such weapon systems will supplement the inventory of means to be used while practicing and potentially conducting the so-called “integrated” operations jointly planned by US and allied militaries within relevant alliances and [[coalition]]s.

A significant additional factor is the stated intention by several US allies to aquire ground-launched INF-range missiles from Washington and / or develop their own missiles with a range from 500 to 5500 km, or to expand their existing national arsenals of such weapons. Obviously, such weapon systems will supplement the inventory of means to be used while practicing and potentially conducting the so-called “integrated” operations jointly planned by US and allied militaries within relevant alliances and [[coalition]]s.

In aggregate, the above-mentioned steps of “the [[collective West]]” entail the formation and augmentation of destabilizing missile capabilities in the regions adjacent to the Russian Federation, creating a direct threat to the security of our country, which is [[strategic]] in nature. In general, these dynamics carry a serious negative charge and are fraught with significant destructive implications for regional and global stability, including a dangerous escalation of tensions between [[nuclear]] powers.

In aggregate, the above-mentioned steps of “the [[collective West]]” entail the formation and augmentation of destabilizing missile capabilities in the regions adjacent to the Russian Federation, creating a direct threat to the security of our country, which is [[strategic]] in nature. In general, these dynamics carry a serious negative charge and are fraught with significant destructive implications for regional and global stability, including a dangerous [[escalation]] of tensions between [[nuclear]] powers.

Russia has consistently made it clear that such a scenario will demand that our country take offsetting military-technical measures in order to counter newly emerging threats and maintain strategic balance. Since our repeated warnings in this regard have been ignored and the situation is developing along the path of the actual emplacement of the US-made ground-launched INF-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, the Russian Foreign Ministry has to state that the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons have ceased to exist. The Ministry is authorized to declare that the Russian Federation no longer considers itself bound by the relevant previously adopted self-restrictions.

Russia has consistently made it clear that such a scenario will demand that our country take offsetting military-technical measures in order to counter newly emerging threats and maintain strategic balance. Since our repeated warnings in this regard have been ignored and the situation is developing along the path of the actual emplacement of the US-made ground-launched INF-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, the Russian Foreign Ministry has to state that the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons have ceased to exist. The Ministry is authorized to declare that the Russian Federation no longer considers itself bound by the relevant previously adopted self-restrictions.