Kremlin and Pentagon discuss "reduction of risk"
Due to the announced deployment of US weapons in Germany, there is a growing danger of a conflict with Russia warned. The Kremlin condemns the agreement as a step "towards a new Cold War". Now Moscow initiates a phone call with Washington.
Two days after Washington's announcement of the deployment of US long-range missiles in Germany, according to Russian reports, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin spoke about a "reduction of the risk of a possible escalation."
The initiative for the phone call came from Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry announced. During the conversation, "the question of avoiding security threats and the reduction of the risk of a possible escalation was discussed."
A spokeswoman for the Pentagon, Sabrina Singh, told journalists that Austin emphasized the "importance of maintaining communication channels" with Moscow amid the conflict in Ukraine and shortly after the NATO summit in Washington.
Germany and the US announced on Wednesday evening on the sidelines of the NATO summit that the US army - after more than 20 years pause - intends to station long-range weapons in Germany again from 2026, for better deterrence against Russia. Among them should be Tomahawk cruise missiles and new hypersonic weapons. The stationing of US missiles is expected to be temporary - until Germany and European allies themselves produce and station such weapons.
Scholz: Germany needs "protection with deterrence"
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended this as a "good decision" for deterring Russia against criticism from SPD, Greens, and the opposition. They warned of the growing danger of a conflict with Russia and feared an arms race between NATO and Russia.
Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also signed an intentional agreement with Poland, France, and Italy for the development and procurement of their own long-range missiles. According to this, it is about so-called stand-off precision weapons. This includes long-range missiles, cruise missiles, modern combat aircraft, and an extended flight and missile defense.
Putin's spokesman sees old times returning
Moscow spoke of a step towards a new "Cold War." "We are taking consistent steps towards a new Cold War," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a state television channel and accused the US, Germany, France, and Britain of direct involvement "in the conflict around Ukraine." "All the features of the Cold War with direct confrontation are returning," Peskov added.
The last official conversation between the defense ministers of Russia and the US took place on June 26. According to Moscow, Belousov then "underlined the danger of further escalation" in connection with the "delivery of US weapons" to Kiev.
- In response to the United States' decision to deploy its long-range missiles in Germany, Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated that Russia is taking "consistent steps towards a new Cold War."
- The Russian Defense Ministry initiated a call with its US counterpart, emphasizing the importance of reducing the risk of a possible escalation in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
- Lloyd Austin, the US Defense Secretary, discussed the topic of avoidance of security threats and reduction of the risk of a possible escalation during his conversation with his Russian counterpart, Andrey Belousov.
- Boris Pistorius, the German Defense Minister, signed an agreement with Poland, France, and Italy for the development and procurement of their own long-range missiles, citing the need for so-called stand-off precision weapons.
- The announcement of the US's intention to station long-range weapons in Germany again, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and new hypersonic weapons, has been met with criticism from Germany's SPD, Greens, and opposition, who fear an arms race with Russia.
