Putin threatens with reaction to US missiles in Germany
The USA intend to deploy rockets in Germany starting from 2026. Russia reacts angrily. Putin announces a corresponding response. There are already nuclear-capable Iskander-Rakets in Kaliningrad that could reach Germany.
Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened a response at the grand naval parade in St. Petersburg with dozens of warships to the planned stationing of US rockets in Germany starting from 2026. In case of implementation of these plans, Russia would react "mirror-like" and no longer feel bound by an earlier prohibition on land-based atomic medium-range missiles.
The INF Treaty on the prohibition of these weapons expired after the US withdrawal in 2019. Putin himself criticized the US complaints about Russian violations of the treaty.
Russia sharply criticized the US decision, announced in this month, to deploy missiles and rockets in Germany starting from 2026 as an additional deterrent. Putin himself criticized a return to the Cold War. The plans are a reaction to the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Iskander-Rakets in Kaliningrad
Putin emphasized during the parade that with the rockets, which could also be equipped with nuclear warheads, important targets in Russia came within range. State, military objects and important industrial plants could be hit within ten minutes. Russia would respond "mirror-like" to this. Russian warships could also be equipped with missiles as a response.
In an explanation of the Bundeswehr on the stationing plans, it is stated that Russia, among other things, has stationed nuclear-capable Iskander-Rakets in the exclave Kaliningrad and could reach German cities with its medium-range missiles. The plans are a response to this and serve as a deterrent.
Among the US weapons intended for Germany are Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can technically be nuclear-armed, as well as SM-6 air defense missiles and new hypersonic weapons, which should reach further than previously stationed land systems in total.
At the parade in Putin's hometown St. Petersburg, warships from China, India, and Algeria, as well as delegations from over a dozen countries participated. According to the Defense Ministry in Moscow, a total of around 200 warships of various classes, over 100 units of military equipment, and about 15,000 personnel of the armed forces took part in the parades throughout the country. The weapon displays serve every year on the Day of the Navy, which is celebrated on the last Sunday in July, as a Russian power demonstration.
- Following Russia's criticism of the US decision to deploy missiles and rockets in Germany from 2026, President Vladimir Putin pointed out the presence of nuclear-capable Iskander-Rakets in Kaliningrad, capable of reaching German cities with their medium-range missiles.
- In response to the US military's plan to station Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 air defense missiles, and new hypersonic weapons in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened a "mirror-like" response, highlighting the strategic importance of the Iskander-Rakets in Kaliningrad.
- Amidst the ongoing politics surrounding the attack on Ukraine and the US military's presence in Europe, German soil will become a new battleground, with both sides equipping their militaries with high-tech weapons like the Iskander-Rakets from Russia and Tomahawk missiles from the US.
