DW reported that on July 29, the German government said it had "recorded" President Vladimir Putin's comments over the weekend saying that Russia would change the military situation if the US deployed more medium-range cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads on German soil in the coming years.
"We will not be threatened by such comments," German Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer said at a press conference in Berlin.
Deputy government spokeswoman Ms. Christiane Hoffmann said she "recognized" Mr. Putin's comments, but also said that the proposed changes in the US missile deployment plan will only be for the purpose of " deterrence" and is necessary in the face of Russia's recent actions.
"Since Russia has changed the strategic balance in Europe, threatening Europe and Germany with cruise missiles, we have to establish deterrence," said Ms. Christiane Hoffmann.
President Putin speaks at a Russian Navy parade in St. Petersburg. Petersburg said on July 28 that if the US continues its plan to deploy more weapons in Europe - which could theoretically target Russia - Moscow will consider similar retaliatory measures.
"If the US implements such plans, we will lift the previous unilateral suspension of the deployment of medium and short-range attack weapons, including the enhancement of the capabilities of our naval forces along the coast," Putin said, referring to the provisions of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (NFT) Treaty, which the US and Russia later withdrew in 2019. One side blames the other for violating the provisions of the treaty.
But President Putin also said that Russia has remained complying with NFT's terms since leaving the deal, but will stop complying if more US weapons are deployed in Germany.
On July 10, the US and Germany issued a joint statement saying the US will begin deploying new weapons in Germany from 2026. These weapons will have a longer range than any other type of weapon currently deployed in Europe.
