Russia criticize the US missiles deployment in Germany and warns that Ukraine joining NATO would mean declaring war

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed dismay at the US decision to deploy medium-range missiles in Germany, calling it a humiliation for Germany.

This came after the Pentagon announced that the United States would begin deploying long-range attack systems in Germany from 2026, and in reaction to the move, Russia warned of its military and political consequences, considering that it could lead to a new Cold War and put European capitals in the range of Russian missiles.

According to Russian media, Lavrov said at the council meeting on “multilateral cooperation for the creation of a fairer, more democratic and sustainable world order”.

“Today we see another humiliation of Germany, whose government has undoubtedly submitted to the US decision to deploy intermediate-range missiles for mercenaries on German soil,” Lavrov added.

In another context, the former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Ukraine’s accession to NATO would be a declaration of war on Moscow and that only the alliance’s show of wisdom could prevent the destruction of the planet.

At their summit last week, NATO leaders pledged to support Ukraine in an irreversible path towards Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership, but left the door open on when it could become a membership.

Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and a prominent voice among Kremlin hawks, told Argomente e-Facti that Ukraine’s membership would go beyond the direct threat to Moscow’s security.

“This Ukraine joining the alliance would be essentially a declaration of war,” Medvedev said.

“The actions that Russia’s adversaries have been taking against us for years and the expansion of the coalition… It takes NATO to the point of no return,” he added.

Medvedev said Russia hadn’t threatened NATO but would respond to the alliance’s attempts to expand.

“The more of these attempts, the harsher our responses become,” Medvedev said.

During his 2008-2012 presidency, Medvedev was seen as pro-Western, but he has reintroduced himself as a Kremlin hawk, warning the United States and its allies that their arming of Kiev could lead to a nuclear catastrophe.