Russia has abandoned a long-held nuclear "freeze" after Donald Trump deployed submarines near Vladimir Putin's coasts. Moscow has said it no longer considers itself bound by a self-imposed ban on the deployment of missiles - and is poised to bring short- and intermediate-range nuclear weapons into action.

The Kremlin warned Monday against “nuclear rhetoric” after President Trump repositioned two nuclear submarines because of what he called “foolish and inflammatory statements” by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.