WW3 fears erupt as Russia abandons nuclear pact and threatens to deploy missiles

Russia said it could abandon a crucial nuclear pact, allowing it to deploy short and intermediate-range missiles. Moscow claimed to no longer be bound by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) - a landmark deal signed by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987. Senior security official and former president Dimitry Medvedev said the shocking move "is the result of NATO countries' anti-Russian policy".

He wrote on X: "This is a new reality all our opponents will have to reckon with. Expect further steps." The INF stipulated that Russia and the US eliminate ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500-5,500km (310-3,400 miles). Donald Trump withdrew the US from it in 2019, and Russia has now followed suit over what it claimed were threats to its national security.

Moscow blamed the US president's deployment of Typhon launchers carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles - which can reach Russia - to the Philippines.

It accused Washington of transferring land-based missile launchers to NATO allies in Europe for military exercises with "a clear anti-Russian focus".

The foreign ministry said: "Since the situation is developing towards the actual deployment of US-made land-based medium and short-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

"The conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons have disappeared."

There is now only one remaining deal that limits US and Russian nuclear weapons - the New START treaty - though it is set to expire in February.

Signed in 2011, the agreement restricts strategic nuclear weapons, including intercontinental missiles.

This comes after Vladimir Putin moved at least four Tu-95MS nuclear bombers, often used to strike Ukraine, closer to Europe. Insider UA reported that they had been loaded with missiles.

The report said: "Russia has transferred bombers from the Far East closer to Ukraine. At least 4 Tu-95MS aircraft were redeployed from Ukrainka [air base] to Olenya/Engels-2. Some of the aircraft are already equipped with cruise missiles."