Russian dictator Vladimir Putin promised to “mirror measures” if the United States follows through on plans to station longer-range and hypersonic missiles in Germany — claiming the move would free Russia from a moratorium on deploying its own long-range, lethal weapons.
Speaking Sunday at a naval parade in St. Petersburg, Putin said Russia may deploy the missiles in response to a US announcement earlier this month that it would affirm its commitment to NATO — and the defense of Europe — by installing its weapons in Germany, starting in 2026.
“If the U.S. implements such plans, we will consider ourselves free from the previously imposed unilateral moratorium on the deployment of intermediate and shorter-range strike weapons, including increasing the capability of the coastal forces of our navy,” Putin said.
He also claimed Moscow is in the final stages of developing such systems.
Ground-based, intermediate-range weaponry was banned for decades after a 1987 treaty between the US and the Soviet Union.
But America backed out of the agreement in 2019 after claiming the Russians had conducted missile tests that broke its tenets. Russia denied the allegations.
Since then — and especially over the last few weeks — both sides have seemed more willing to deploy the weapons, even as they resurrect spine-chilling Cold War memories.
The US military is expected to place a cornucopia of munitions in Germany, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles and “developmental hypersonic weapons,” some of which have a much longer range than others already deployed in Europe, according to a joint statement from Washington and Berlin.
For years, Putin has decried such deployments as aggressive moves that sought to kneecap Moscow’s own abilities.
Last week, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said the Kremlin isn’t ruling out new deployments of nuclear missiles, either.
Most of Russia’s missile systems are capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads.
The Russians are specifically looking to defend Kaliningrad, the country’s heavily militarized exclave that sits between Poland and Lithuania — both of whom are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO.
With Post wires.