Medvedev Warns of “Further Steps”:On August 4, 2025, Russia officially ended its self-imposed moratorium on deploying intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles, citing growing NATO threats and U.S. missile deployments in Europe and the Asia-Pacific. Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev warned of “further steps” and called the situation a “new reality” for Russia’s adversaries. The Kremlin’s move, confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry and RT.com, includes the deployment of the Oreshnik missile system in Russia and Belarus. This shift marks a significant escalation in military tensions following the collapse of the INF Treaty in 2019.
Russia Lifts INF Missile Moratorium Amid Rising NATO Tensions: Medvedev Warns of “Further Steps”
In a significant escalation of military posturing, Russia has officially lifted its self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles (INF), a move that has sent ripples through global strategic circles. The announcement was confirmed on August 4, 2025, by both the Russian Foreign Ministry and top Kremlin officials, including Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council.
Medvedev took to social media platform X to issue a stark warning, stating, “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. This is a new reality all our opponents will have to reckon with. Expect further steps.” His comments reflect the Kremlin’s growing frustration with what it perceives as increasing Western military encroachment near its borders.
This policy shift follows the Russian Foreign Ministry’s declaration that the strategic conditions which justified the unilateral moratorium have “disappeared.” The Ministry cited the deployment of U.S.-made INF-range missiles in both Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, along with what it described as NATO’s aggressive expansion and “anti-Russian policy,” as key provocations. The Kremlin argues that these developments pose a direct threat to Russia’s national security and necessitate a firm response.
The moratorium in question was initially imposed after the U.S. withdrew from the INF Treaty in 2019, a landmark arms control agreement signed in 1987 that banned both countries from possessing, producing, or deploying land-based missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. Since the U.S. exit, Russia had refrained from deploying such systems, despite retaining the capability to do so.
However, recent NATO exercises and missile deployments have clearly changed Moscow’s calculus. The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed specifically to the U.S. testing of new missile systems like the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), including its deployment during joint military drills such as “Talisman Sabre 2025” in the Asia-Pacific. These moves, according to Russia, undermine regional stability and signal an unmistakable threat, particularly when combined with reports of missile placements in Eastern Europe.
Medvedev’s remarks underscore the broader strategic pivot Russia appears to be making. While he did not elaborate on what “further steps” would follow, sources indicate that Russia is actively working on deploying ground-based INF systems. Among them is the Oreshnik missile system, which, according to posts on X from RT.com on August 4, is already being positioned in both Russia and Belarus.
The Oreshnik system’s deployment represents the first concrete shift under the new doctrine. Military analysts suggest that it could serve as a tactical and strategic deterrent aimed at countering U.S. missile systems positioned near Russia’s western frontiers. However, beyond the Oreshnik, there have been no verified announcements regarding additional deployments or new systems.
Posts from RT.com have emphasized that Russia’s actions are defensive in nature, intended as countermeasures to what they term “Western missile proliferation” along Russia’s periphery. Yet the language from Medvedev and the Ministry leaves open the possibility of more aggressive responses should NATO or the U.S. escalate further.
Speculation online has been rife about the nature of Medvedev’s ambiguous “further steps.” While some unverified sources on X hint at potential deployments in Kaliningrad or the Arctic, others speculate about the revival of Soviet-era missile programs with modern upgrades. However, none of these reports have been confirmed by official Russian sources.
As of now, the lifting of the INF moratorium and the deployment of the Oreshnik system mark a critical juncture in post-INF global security dynamics. With neither NATO nor the U.S. backing down from missile deployments in Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific, and with Russia signaling a more assertive military doctrine, the coming months could see a renewed arms race in Eurasia.
The situation remains fluid, and the international community will be closely watching for the next moves from both Russia and NATO. The ambiguity of Medvedev’s “further steps” adds to the tension, raising concerns that the strategic landscape in Europe and beyond could be entering a new and potentially more dangerous phase.