Putin: Well Target USA If Washington Deploys Missiles In Europe

(Reuters) 20 February 2019 11:20 MOSCOW - Russia will respond to any U.S. deployment of short or intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe by targeting not only the countries where they are stationed but the United States itself President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. In his toughest remarks yet on a potential new arms race Putin said Russia was not seeking confrontation and would not take the first step to deploy missiles in response to Washingtons decision this month to quit a landmark Cold War-era arms control treaty. But he said that Russias reaction to any deployment would be resolute and that U.S. policy-makers some of whom he said were obsessed with U.S. exceptionalism should calculate the risks before taking any steps. Its their right to think how they want. But can they count? Im sure they can. Let them count the speed and the range of the weapons systems we are developing Putin told Russias political elite to strong applause.