Russia’s Missile Use Prompted U.S. Exit From Key Arms Control Treaty, now Faces Renewed Scrutiny
LVIV REGION, UKRAINE – A recent surge in Ukrainian requests for long-range Tomahawk missiles from the United States has resurfaced scrutiny of Russia’s own missile deployments and the subsequent unraveling of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The treaty’s collapse, initiated by the U.S.in 2019, stemmed directly from Russia’s development and fielding of a ground-launched cruise missile system-the 9M729-that violated treaty provisions. This system, capable of reaching European targets, prompted then-President donald Trump to withdraw, citing national security concerns.
The INF Treaty, signed in 1987, eliminated all nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. While Tomahawk missiles were not initially prohibited as they were sea-launched, Kyiv’s appeal for these weapons-and Moscow’s warnings against thier provision-highlights a dangerous escalation in the conflict and a renewed focus on the treaty’s demise. Russia maintains that supplying Ukraine with Tomahawks would be a provocative step,even as it continues to utilize similar missile technology in its ongoing military operations. The Pentagon has approved potential deliveries, but final authorization rests with Trump, who has signaled a willingness to revisit nuclear testing.
The 9M729 missile, known to NATO as the SSC-8, became the focal point of escalating tensions. U.S. officials repeatedly asserted that the missile system violated the INF Treaty, presenting evidence of its capabilities and deployment. Russia consistently denied these accusations, claiming the missile’s range did not exceed treaty limits. Despite numerous diplomatic efforts,a resolution could not be reached,leading to the treaty’s official termination in August 2019.
The withdrawal removed constraints on both nations’ missile development, raising fears of a new arms race. Now, as Ukraine seeks to bolster its defenses against Russian attacks – including strikes like the one that killed a family of four in the Lviv region – the implications of the treaty’s absence are once again at the forefront of international security concerns.
