Moscow has committed to formulating a military recourse in response to America’s intentions to deploy long-range missiles in Germany, and has stated it will refuse any future suggestions to attend a peace summit suggested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The US has confirmed its plans to intermittently deploy in Germany from 2026, as part of a comprehensive plan for the lasting establishment of these strategic assets in the long term. Once fully operational, these traditional long-range military units will incorporate SM-6, Tomahawk, and emerging hypersonic weapons – this range surpasses current land-based artillery in Europe.
With heightened apprehension mounting following Russia’s complete invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the White House stated that this demonstrates America’s obligation to NATO and its input to a unified European deterrence strategy.
Sergey Ryabkov, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, characterised this manoeuvre as remorsefully damaging for regional security and the stability of strategy, albeit not surprising.
He followed by saying, “We’ll meticulously devise, predominantly, a military solution for the fresh threat. These manoeuvres yet again primarily diminish the security integrity of our nation. This merely represents a part of the continued escalation, serving as yet another method of intimidation which is now nearly the core strategy of NATO and the US against Russia.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that NATO’s intensification of its presence in Eastern Europe “portrays a considerable threat to the national security of our motherland. This necessitates us to arrange… effective procedures to discourage NATO, to counter NATO.”
Russia’s past president Dmitry Medvedev, currently deputy chair of its security council, stated Russia’s necessity to “undertake everything…” to guarantee “either the cessation of Ukraine or of NATO. Ideally – the cessation of both.”
Last month, a conference addressing President Zelenskiy’s “peace formula”, a ten-point plan aimed at resolving the conflict, was convened in Switzerland by Ukraine. Lots of nations were in attendance to review his proposal. Russia, however, was neither invited nor represented. Despite this, Kyiv has signified its intentions to possibly extend an invitation for Russia to be present at an ensuing conference in the ensuing months. Some countries closely aligned with Moscow, especially China, abstained from the initial conference due to the absence of the Kremlin.
Mikhail Galuzin, a deputy Russian foreign minister, acknowledged that he’s aware of Kyiv’s designs, backed by its Western supporters, emphasising that they aim to save face after the unsuccessful Swiss peace conference. Zelenskiy’s peace propositions, including the complete removal of Russian forces from Ukrainian soil, compensation payment, and being held to answer for war atrocities, were regarded as a demand by Galuzin. He affirmed Russia’s rejection of such ultimatums and its refusal to engage in similar future gatherings.
Galuzin stated that Russia is open to peace discussions only under the condition that Ukraine recognises the occupation of its five regions and withdraws its ambitions to join Nato.