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Russia would possibly deploy new strike weapons in reaction to the United States’ planned stationing of longer-range hypersonic missiles in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday.
Speaking at a naval parade in St. Petersburg, Putin promised “mirror measures” after the United States announced earlier this month that it would begin deploying such weapons in 2026, to affirm its commitment to NATO and European defense after the invasion. total of Moscow. Ukraine in 2026. February 2022.
“If the United States implements such plans, we will free ourselves from the unilateral moratorium imposed in the past on the deployment of medium- and short-range strike weapons, in addition to expanding the capability of our coastal forces,” Putin said. He added that Moscow’s progress in terms of adequate systems was “in its last stages”.
In recent weeks, Washington and Moscow have indicated that they are in a position to deploy intermediate-range ground guns banned for decades under a 1987 treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union. The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2019, accusing Moscow of conducting missile tests that violated it.
The accusations, which Russia has denied, come as tensions rise between Moscow and the West following the downing of a Malaysian plane carrying 298 other people over war-torn eastern Ukraine. Two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian were convicted for their role in the attack.
Washington and Berlin said in a joint meeting this month that U. S. weapons to eventually be placed in Germany would include SM-6 missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles and “developmental hypersonic cannons,” adding that those with particularly longer diversity than those of late. displayed. throughout Europe.
Most Russian missile systems are capable of carrying nuclear or traditional warheads. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said last week that the Kremlin does not rule out additional deployments of nuclear missiles in reaction to the US decision.
Ryabkov added that the defense of Kaliningrad, the heavily militarized Russian enclave wedged between NATO members Poland and Lithuania, is of specific concern.
Putin has for years viewed the U. S. deployment of missile infrastructure in Europe as a competitive measure aimed at crippling Moscow’s capabilities. News of the planned deployment of new weapons in Germany was announced at the NATO summit in Washington earlier this month. At the same event, the allies announced that a new U. S. base in Poland, Ukraine’s western neighbor, would be fit for service and capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.