MOSCOW: Russia has declared that it no longer considers itself bound by a self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of nuclear-capable intermediate range missiles, a warning that potentially sets the stage for a new arms race as tensions between Moscow and Washington rise again over Ukraine. In a statement Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry linked the decision to efforts by the US and its allies to develop intermediate range weapons and preparations for their deployment in Europe and other parts of the world.

According to the statement, certain steps taken by the collective West in the sphere of proliferating such missiles create a direct threat to Russia’s security

"Expect further steps," Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman added