Russia vows 'mirror measures' if US deploys missiles in Germany

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning to the United States on Sunday, cautioning that the deployment of long-range missiles in Germany would prompt Russia to position similar missiles within striking distance of Western targets.

The United States had announced on July 10 that it would begin deploying long-range missiles in Germany from 2026, a move that would include the SM-6, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and developmental hypersonic weapons.

Speaking to sailors from Russia, China, Algeria, and India during Russian Navy Day celebrations in St Petersburg, Putin warned that such actions could trigger a Cold War-style missile crisis.

"The flight time to targets on our territory of such missiles, which in the future may be equipped with nuclear warheads, will be about 10 minutes," Putin stated.

"We will take mirror measures to deploy, taking into account the actions of the United States, its satellites in Europe and in other regions of the world."

Putin, who ordered a military invasion of Ukraine in 2022, portrays the conflict as part of a historical struggle with the West. He accuses Western nations of humiliating Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 by encroaching on areas he considers within Moscow's sphere of influence.

In contrast, Ukraine and its allies argue that Putin's actions represent an imperialistic land grab. They have pledged to defeat Russia, which currently controls approximately 18% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and parts of four eastern regions.

Russia says the lands, once part of the Russian empire, are now again part of Russia and that they will never be given back.

Cold war?

Diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States are reportedly worse than during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, with both nations calling for de-escalation while simultaneously taking steps that heighten tensions.

Putin accused the United States of exacerbating tensions by transferring Typhon missile systems to Denmark and the Philippines. He likened the current US plans to NATO's 1979 decision to deploy Pershing II launchers in Western Europe.

During that period, Soviet leaders, including General Secretary Yuri Andropov, feared that the Pershing II deployments were part of a US-led strategy to decapitate the Soviet Union by targeting its political and military leadership.

"This situation is reminiscent of the events of the Cold War related to the deployment of American medium–range Pershing missiles in Europe," Putin said.

The Pershing II, designed to deliver a variable yield nuclear warhead, was deployed to West Germany in 1983.

"This situation is reminiscent of the events of the Cold War related to the deployment of American medium–range Pershing missiles in Europe," Putin remarked.

The Pershing II, capable of delivering a variable yield nuclear warhead, was deployed in West Germany in 1983. At the time, the ailing Andropov and the KGB perceived a series of US moves, including the Pershing II deployment and a major NATO exercise, as indicators that the West was preparing to launch a pre-emptive strike on the Soviet Union.

Putin reiterated a previous warning that Russia might resume the production of intermediate and shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles. He stated that Russia would consider where to deploy these missiles in response to the United States' introduction of similar missiles to Europe and Asia.