Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia has used the 9M729 cruise missile the same weapon that pushed Donald Trump to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019. Kyiv claims Moscow has launched the missile 23 times since August, marking its first confirmed use in combat. The 9M729, capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads and flying up to 2,500 km, was previously banned under the INF pact.
Why It Matters:
This revelation revives Cold War-era nuclear tensions and raises major concerns for European security. The missile’s deployment not only violates the spirit of past arms control agreements but also signals Moscow’s willingness to escalate amid Trump’s renewed calls for a peace deal in Ukraine. Analysts warn that Russia may be testing NATO’s red lines while demonstrating its ability to strike far beyond Ukrainian territory.
Russia: Expanding its long-range strike options and sending a message to NATO and Washington.
Ukraine: Urging Western allies to boost long-range defences and pressure Moscow into negotiations.
United States: Faces renewed scrutiny over nuclear restraint after Trump ordered new U.S. weapons testing.
Europe: Increasingly exposed, as INF-range missiles can easily reach EU territory.
Global Security Analysts: View the 9M729’s battlefield use as a potential arms control breakdown moment.
What’s Next:
Kyiv is pressing Washington for Tomahawk missiles to match Russia’s reach, while Western officials study missile fragments from recent strikes for verification. If confirmed, Russia’s use of INF-range weapons could reshape Europe’s security calculus and force new international talks on arms limits.
With information from an exclusive Reuters report.
