Russia Warns US of Cold War-Style Crisis Over European Missile Deployments

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a warning to the United States on Sunday, stating that if the US deploys long-range missiles in Germany from 2026, Russia will station similar missiles in striking distance of the West. This move comes as the US plans to deploy long-range fire capabilities in Germany in 2026, including SM-6, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and developmental hypersonic weapons with longer ranges than current capabilities in Europe.

Key Takeaways:

• Putin warned the US that deploying long-range missiles in Germany from 2026 would trigger a Cold War-style missile crisis, with a flight time of 10 minutes to targets on Russian territory.
• The US plans to deploy SM-6, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and developmental hypersonic weapons in Germany, with the aim of demonstrating its commitment to NATO and European defense.
• Putin compared the US plans to the 1979 NATO decision to deploy Pershing II launchers in Western Europe, which the Soviet leadership feared was part of an elaborate plan to decapitate the Soviet Union.
• Putin repeated an earlier warning that Russia could resume production of intermediate and shorter range nuclear-capable missiles and consider where to deploy them after the US brought similar missiles to Europe and Asia.

Statistics:

• The US plans to deploy long-range fire capabilities in Germany in 2026.
• The flight time to targets on Russian territory of US long-range missiles would be approximately 10 minutes.
• The Soviet leadership feared the 1979 Pershing II launchers deployment in Western Europe would take out the Soviet Union's political and military leadership.

Sources:

• "Russia Warns US of Cold War-Style Crisis Over European Missile Deployments" by Varnika Srivastava, Distributed by Contify.com (no date specified)
• Copyright 2010 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd., DNA (Daily News & Analysis) All Rights Reserved, Distributed by Contify.com