Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened today to restart production of intermediate-range nuclear weapons if the United States confirms its intention to deploy missiles in Germany or elsewhere in Europe.
"If the United States implements these plans, we will consider ourselves free from the previously adopted unilateral moratorium on the deployment of medium- and short-range strike capabilities," Putin said during a speech at a naval parade in St. Petersburg.
These types of weapons, with a range of 500 and 5,500 kilometers (km), were previously the subject of a limitation treaty between Washington and Moscow, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, signed during the time of the former Soviet Union.
Russia and the United States withdrew from this treaty in 2019, with both accusing each other of no longer respecting its provisions.
Moscow had, however, announced that it would not restart production of these types of missiles until the United States deployed them abroad.
However, Washington and Berlin announced in July their intention to "start deploying long-range weapons" in Germany in 2026.
"Important Russian state administration and military facilities will be within range of these missiles (...). The flight time of these missiles, which may in the future be equipped with nuclear warheads, to our territories will be about 10 minutes," Putin explained.
"This situation is reminiscent of the events of the Cold War connected with the deployment of American medium-range Pershing missiles in Europe," Putin continued.
The Kremlin had already warned in mid-July that European capitals would become legitimate targets for Russia in the event of the deployment of American missiles on the continent.
Putin was speaking at the annual parade of the Russian fleet in St. Petersburg, which this year also included Chinese, Indian and Algerian ships.
