(Moscow) A decision announced this week to station long-range US missiles in Germany could target European capitals for Russian missiles, and victims of a conflict between Washington and Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“Europe is a target for our missiles, our country is a target for US missiles in Europe. We have been through this before. We have the ability to control these missiles, but the victims are the capitals of these European countries,” he said, referring to the decision by Washington and Berlin to station various types of long-range US missiles in Germany in 2026.
On the sidelines of a NATO summit, Washington and Berlin announced in a joint announcement Wednesday that Germany would begin “episodic deployments of long-range fire capabilities” in 2026, referring to SM-6 missiles, Tomahawk missiles and hypersonic weapons under development, increasing the range of capabilities currently deployed in Europe.
Photo by Jared Morris, Agence France-Presse Archives
The Tomahawk missile was launched from destruction USS Stetham During training on September 20, 2016.
According to the joint statement, “it will demonstrate America’s commitment to NATO and its contribution to a unified European deterrence”.
The announcement was condemned by the Kremlin as a form of return to the “Cold War”, and the defense chiefs of the two nuclear powers discussed “escalating risk reduction” after Moscow on Friday, while Washington insisted. In this case “the importance of maintaining communication channels”.
