By Burc Eruygur
ISTANBUL (AA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Washington of attempting to push Moscow to its "red lines," warning that Russia will lift its restrictions on short- and medium-range missile deployment if the US deploys similar weapons.
Speaking at an extended meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry board in Moscow, Putin also said NATO nations increased military spending and formed NATO troop groups near the Russian border.
The Russian president claimed that the number of US servicemen in Europe has exceeded 100,000.
“No less worrying is the US activity in creating and preparing for deployment in forward zones of high-precision strike weapons of land-based origin with a firing range of up to 5,500 kilometers (3,417 miles),” he said.
He argued that the transfer and deployment of such missile systems in Europe and Asia-Pacific are being worked out concurrently, pointing out that such measures were previously prohibited by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, signed by Washington and Moscow in 1987, prohibited the use of ground-based nuclear and conventional missiles.
However, the US pulled out of the arms control treaty in 2019, citing Russian violations.
"We have repeatedly stated that the termination of this treaty would have negative consequences for global security, but we have also emphasized that we will not deploy intermediate- and shorter-range missiles until American weapons of this kind appear in any region of the world," he said.
“In fact, Russia has taken on these obligations unilaterally. But, as I have already said, if the US begins to deploy such systems, then all our voluntary restrictions will be lifted,” he warned.