Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that his country may deploy new strike weapons in response to the planned US deployment of longer-range and hypersonic missiles in Germany. Speaking at a naval parade in St. Petersburg, Putin vowed to take “mirror measures” against the US, which announced plans to deploy the missiles in 2026 as part of its commitment to NATO and European defense.
The US decision comes after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which has led to a significant escalation of tensions between Moscow and the West. Putin claimed that if the US proceeds with its plans, Russia will no longer be bound by a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of intermediate and shorter-range strike weapons.
Russia has been developing suitable systems to counter the US deployment, and Putin said that these efforts are in their final stage. The move is likely to further strain relations between Russia and the West, which have been deteriorating since the US pulled out of a 1987 treaty banning intermediate-range ground-based missiles in 2019.
The US has accused Russia of violating the treaty, which Moscow has denied. The tensions have been fueled by a series of incidents, including the downing of a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine in 2014, which killed 298 people. Two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian were later convicted over their role in the attack.
The US and Germany have announced plans to deploy SM-6 missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and developmental hypersonic weapons in Germany, which Russia sees as a threat to its national security. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, has warned that the Kremlin may respond by deploying nuclear missiles, particularly in the Kaliningrad region, which is sandwiched between NATO members Poland and Lithuania.
Putin has long viewed US missile deployments in Europe as an attempt to undermine Russia’s military capabilities. The latest developments come as NATO allies announced the opening of a new US base in Poland, which is capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
