Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on 10 Aug that the United States is positioning military systems "increasingly close" to Russian territory, a deployment he described as a direct threat to national security. Speaking to Russian media, Ryabkov warned that nuclear tensions remain high and could worsen after the New START arms-control treaty expires, raising the prospect of a world with no binding limits on strategic arsenals. Ryabkov added that Moscow possesses an undisclosed advanced weapon that "surpasses" its publicly known Oreshnik hypersonic system, though he declined to provide technical details. The statement follows Russian reports of preparations for tests of a missile nicknamed the "flying Chernobyl," underscoring a broader escalation in rhetoric over strategic capabilities. The sharper tone from Moscow contrasts with remarks made at the White House on 6 Aug, when a U.S. official said Russia was "eager to continue engaging" with Washington. The parallel signals highlight both sides’ interest in maintaining dialogue even as they trade warnings over military postures near Russia’s borders and the future of nuclear arms control.