The United States "made a mistake by unilaterally destroying the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019 under a far-fetched pretext," President of Russia Vladimir Putin stated,
TASS reports.
"We have always preferred, and are now ready to resolve all disputes through peaceful means, but we are also ready for any development," he said. "If anyone still doubts this, they shouldn’t. There will always be an answer."
"We are carrying out the development of intermediate-range and medium-range missiles as a response to US plans to produce and deploy intermediate-range and medium-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region."
Russia’s plans for future deployment of intermediate- and medium-range missiles will depend "on the actions of the United States and its satellites."
"We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities."
"We shall decisively respond to aggressive escalation in a tit-for-tat manner. I recommend the ruling elites of the countries who nurture plans to use their military contingents against Russia seriously think about this."
The use of the West’s longer-range missiles will not slow down the Russian offensive. "Our troops are successfully advancing along the whole combat engagement line. All our tasks will be fulfilled."
"I would like to particularly emphasize that the enemy’s use of such weapons will have no effect on the situation in the special military operation area."