Nuclear fear is back! Putin's minister drops Nuke bomb for Donald Trump

Russia kept up development of intermediate- and shorter-range missile systems during a moratorium on their deployment and now possesses a substantial arsenal of such weapons, Russian media reported late on Sunday citing Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Earlier this month, Russia said it was lifting what it called a unilateral moratorium on deploying intermediate-range missiles, saying this was a forced response to moves by the U.S. and its allies. The ground-based shorter-range and intermediate-range treaty, signed by the Soviet Union and the United States in 1987 was seen at the time as a sign of easing tensions between the rival superpowers. But over time, it unravelled as relations deteriorated. The United States withdrew from the treaty in 2019 during Donald Trump's first presidency, citing alleged violations that Russia denied.

"When the moratorium was announced, we made it clear that it applied only to deployment, and did not mention any halt to (research and development) activities," RIA news agency quoted Ryabkov as telling state-run Rossiya-1 state broadcaster in an interview.

"So this time was used to develop the appropriate systems and to build a fairly substantial arsenal in this area. As I understand it, we now possess it," RIA cited Ryabkov as saying.


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday warned against capitulating to the demands of President Vladimir Putin ahead of talks Friday between the Russian leader and US President Donald Trump. The US-Russia summit -- so far planned without Zelensky -- will be the first between a sitting US and Russian president since 2021. Kyiv is concerned that Trump and Putin could strike a deal requiring Ukraine to cede territory to Russia.

Ukraine and its backers in Europe insist that the United States and Russia cannot decide on land swaps behind their backs at a summit this week, but the Europeans concede that Moscow is unlikely to give up control of Ukrainian land it holds. Ahead of the summit in Alaska on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that a peace deal could include “some swapping of territories,” but the Europeans see no sign that Russia will offer anything to swap. Europeans and Ukrainians so far are not invited to the summit.

European Union foreign ministers are meeting on Monday following talks on Ukraine among U.S. and European security advisers over the weekend. They are wary that President Vladimir Putin will try to claim a political victory by portraying Ukraine as inflexible.

Concerns have mounted in Europe and Ukraine that Kyiv may be pressed to give up land or accept other curbs on its sovereignty. Ukraine and its European allies reject the notion that Putin should lay claim to any territory even before agreeing to a ceasefire.

FAQs

Q1. Who is Sergei Ryabkov?
A1. Deputy Foreign Minister is Sergei Ryabkov.

Q2. Who is President of Ukraine?
A2. President of Ukraine is Volodymyr Zelensky.