Putin warns of retaliation as US plans missile deployment in Germany

Vladimir Putin is threatening again. He warned the United States that if Washington deploys long-range missiles in Germany, then Russia will deploy similar missiles at a distance needed to strike Western countries.

On the sidelines of the NATO summit nearly two weeks ago, the White House and the German government announced that the United States would begin deploying long-range missiles, including hypersonic missiles, SM-6 missiles, and Tomahawks, in Germany in 2026. According to Washington, this aims to demonstrate the USA's commitment to NATO and its contribution to European "integrated deterrence."

Now Putin has responded with threats directed towards the West.

He warned the United States that they risk provoking a missile crisis. "The flight time to targets on our territory of such missiles, which in the future may be equipped with nuclear warheads, will be about 10 minutes," Putin said during a speech to sailors from Russia, China, Algeria, and India on the occasion of the Russian Navy Day celebrations in St. Petersburg.

He pointed out, "We will take mirror measures to deploy, taking into account the actions of the United States, its satellites in Europe and in other regions of the world."

Vladimir Putin said that the United States is escalating tensions. He compared the US actions to NATO's decision to deploy Pershing II missile launchers in Western Europe in 1979.

He also noted that Russia could resume production of medium- and short-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and then consider where to deploy them.