(MENAFN) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has cautioned that, despite some recent signs of improvement in US–Russia dialogue, relations remain far from genuine détente. Speaking to Rossiya-1 on Sunday, he noted “sprouts of common sense” in talks but warned that any celebrations would be premature.

Ryabkov confirmed that earlier this month Russia ended its self-imposed moratorium on deploying intermediate-range missiles — a measure it had maintained even after the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty collapsed in 2019. The US, under President Donald Trump, withdrew from the treaty citing alleged Russian violations, which Moscow has denied.

According to Ryabkov, the moratorium was lifted in response to escalating Western military actions, particularly by the US and NATO allies. The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed to the “disappearance of conditions” for maintaining the restriction, citing the Talisman Sabre military drills in Australia in July. Those exercises featured the US Typhon mobile ground-based launcher, capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of up to 1,800km and SM-6 missiles with a range of up to 500km.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia now reserves the right to deploy such missiles “when deemed necessary” without prior announcement. Last month, Trump indicated he would like to reopen talks with Moscow to preserve existing nuclear arms limits.

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