Berlin responds to Putin's threats to resume production of medium-range missiles

Placing American missiles in Germany is a deterrence measure while Vladimir Putin's threats to take "countermeasures" scare no one.

This was stated at a briefing by the deputy spokesperson for the German government, Christiane Hoffmann, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We substantiated in great detail why these weapons should be deployed here (in Germany - ed.). Russia has changed the strategic balance in Europe and is threatening Europe and Germany with missiles. Therefore ... a corresponding decision was made. It’s all about deterrence," Hoffmann said.

The representative of the German government assured that Germany is in favor of returning to the arms control regime.

According to her, Berlin took note of the threats expressed by Vladimir Putin during the naval parade in St. Petersburg on July 28 regarding plans to resume the production of medium-range missiles and to take "mirror measures" following the actions taken by the United States and its partners.

At the same time, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sebastian Fischer, emphasized: "We will not allow ourselves to be intimidated by such threats."

The diplomat noted that the Putin regime has been building up its nuclear arsenal for years. It was the Kremlin that violated the Treaty on the Elimination of Medium- and Short-Range Missiles, and is now waging a war of aggression, therefore Europe has to do something to address this.

As reported, U.S. plans to temporarily place Tomahawk missiles, SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles, and new models of long-range hypersonic weapons on German territory were announced during the NATO summit in Washington. The missiles will start to be deployed from 2026.