Russia’s defense minister says the nation will develop land-based intermediate range missiles within two years.
Sergei Shoigu’s statement follows the U.S. decision to suspend its obligations under the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty over alleged Russian violations. Russian President Vladimir Putin responded by saying that Moscow will also abandon the pact, but will only deploy intermediate-range missiles if Washington does so.
Russia has rejected claims that it has deployed a missile that violated the treaty’s ban on land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres (310 to 3,410 miles). But Mr. Shoigu said on Tuesday such weapons need to be designed now.