Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia may deploy new strike weapons in response to the planned U.S. stationing of longer-range and hypersonic missiles in Germany. The U.S. recently revealed its intention to start deploying these weapons in 2026 as part of its commitment to NATO and European defense following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Putin stated that if the U.S. proceeds with its plans, Russia will no longer adhere to the unilateral moratorium on the deployment of intermediate and shorter-range strike weapons. He emphasized that Moscow's development of suitable systems is in its final stages.
Both the U.S. and Russia have indicated their readiness to deploy intermediate-range ground-based weapons, which were prohibited under a 1987 U.S.-Soviet treaty. The U.S. withdrew from the agreement in 2019, citing Moscow's alleged missile tests that violated the treaty, a claim Russia has denied.
The recent tensions between Russia and the West were exacerbated by the downing of a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine, leading to convictions of individuals involved in the attack. The U.S. and Germany announced plans to station SM-6 missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and developmental hypersonic weapons in Germany, with significantly longer ranges than current European deployments.
Russia's deputy foreign minister mentioned the possibility of new nuclear missile deployments in response to the U.S. actions, particularly to defend Kaliningrad, Russia's militarized exclave between Poland and Lithuania. Putin has long criticized U.S. missile infrastructure in Europe as an aggressive move against Russia's capabilities.
These developments were disclosed at a recent NATO summit in Washington, where allies also announced the readiness of a new U.S. base in Poland to intercept ballistic missiles, further escalating tensions in the region.
