Vladimir Putin Has Issued a Warning to the United States

Vladimir Putin has issued a warning to the United States, stating that if Washington deploys long-range missiles in Germany from 2026, Russia will respond by positioning similar missiles within range of Western targets.

Earlier this month, the US and Germany announced plans for the US to deploy long-range fire capabilities in Germany starting in 2026, as part of a demonstration of its commitment to NATO and European defense. These deployments, initially described as "episodic," are expected to pave the way for the permanent stationing of advanced capabilities, including SM-6 and Tomahawk cruise missiles, as well as developing hypersonic weapons with longer ranges than those currently present in Europe.

In a speech on Sunday marking Russian Navy Day in St. Petersburg, Putin addressed sailors from Russia, China, Algeria, and India, warning that the US's actions could spark a missile crisis reminiscent of the Cold War. He noted that such missiles, potentially equipped with nuclear warheads, could reach targets in Russia in about ten minutes. "We will take reciprocal measures, considering the actions of the United States, its allies in Europe, and other regions," Putin stated.

Putin accused the US of escalating tensions by transferring Typhon missile systems to Denmark and the Philippines, comparing the current situation to NATO's deployment of Pershing II missiles in Western Europe in 1979. He recalled that the Soviet leadership, including then-General Secretary Yuri Andropov, viewed the Pershing II deployments as a potential US strategy to neutralize Soviet political and military leadership.

"This situation reminds me of the Cold War era events related to the deployment of American medium-range Pershing missiles in Europe," Putin concluded.