In a Sunday Address, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the United States not to place long-range missiles in Germany if it wanted to avoid Russia placing similar missiles closer to Western states.
The US said on July 10 that starting in 2026, it will place long-range missiles in Germany, including SM-6 missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and hypersonic aviation missiles.
Addressing festivities to mark Russian Navy Day in the city of St Petersburg, Putin warned that such actions were capable of starting a new missile crisis similar to the one that dramatically unfolded during the Cold War. As he specified, the time from launch to targets on our territory will be about 10 minutes these missiles may be equipped with nuclear warheads and corresponding measures will be taken by Russia.
Putin, who initiated the military aggressive actions against Ukraine in 2022, considers it as a part of the battle with the Western countries. He blames Western nations as having Respectlessly pushed Russia into a corner humiliating it ever since the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Moscow’s aggression can be interpreted by Ukraine and some of its political partners as an imperialist aggression. They are loyal to fight against the Russian Federation which occupies about 18% of Ukraine’s area including Crimea and the portions of four eastern oblasts.
studies reveal that current relations between Russia and the US are in their worst state as during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. Putin referred to the existing situation as similar to NATO’s decision in 1979 to place Pershing II missiles in Western Europe which Soviet leaders interpreted as a threat of a first strike.
In their authoritative response, Putin threatened to start building intermediate and shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles – promises to study the option very attentively considering the US missile plans.