Russia May Deploy Nuclear Missiles Response to US Weapons in Germany

Russia does not rule out new deployments of nuclear missiles in response to the planned US stationing of long-range conventional weapons in Germany, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Interfax news agency cited Ryabkov as saying that the defence of Russia’s Kaliningrad region, which is wedged between NATO members Poland and Lithuania, was a particular focus.
The United States said last week it would start deployment in Germany from 2026 of weapons that will include SM-6, Tomahawk and new hypersonic missiles in order to demonstrate its commitment to NATO and European defence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that Moscow would resume producing short and intermediate-range land-based missiles and decide where to place them if needed. Most of Russia’s missile systems are capable of being fitted with either conventional or nuclear warheads.
Interfax quoted Ryabkov as saying Russia would choose from the widest possible array of options to work out the most effective response to the US move, including in terms of cost.
He said Kaliningrad, the westernmost part of Russia that is cut off from the rest of its land mass, “has long attracted the unhealthy attention of our opponents.”