Moscow, Oct 2 (EFE). – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday the Tomahawk missiles Washington plans to deliver to Kyiv are a “powerful” weapon and warned that their use will cause tensions between Moscow and Washington to escalate.
“As for the Tomahawk, it’s a powerful weapon. True, it’s not exactly modern anymore, but it’s powerful and poses a threat. Of course, this won’t change the balance of power on the battlefield at all,” Putin said at the Valdai Discussion Club in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
However, the Russian president recalled that Tomahawks require direct participation of the US military, adding that the delivery of the missiles would affect Russia-US relations.
“This would mean a whole new level of escalation, including in relations between Russia and the United States,” Putin said in response to a question on potential supplies of the long-range missiles to Ukraine via European allies.
According to US Vice President JD Vance, Washington is considering authorizing the shipment of Tomahawk precision missiles to Ukraine.
Tomahawks have a range of 2,500 kilometers (over 1550 miles) and would put numerous key targets on Russian territory within range of the Ukrainian army.
Russia is not a “paper tiger”
On Thursday, Putin also responded to United States President Donald Trump’s comments last week, saying that Russia is not a “paper tiger.”
“If we’re fighting the entire NATO bloc, and we’re moving forward, advancing, feeling confident, and (Russia) is a paper tiger, then what is NATO itself? What does it represent?” said Putin in conversation at the Valdai Discussion Club.
The Russian President added that the remarks may have been ironic while underscoring his relationship with Trump.
“We have our own relationship; we know what to give each other. We’re very relaxed about it. I don’t know in what context this was said; perhaps it was said ironically (…). So he said to his interlocutor: ‘paper tiger,’ and then something else might happen, go and deal with this ‘paper tiger’,” Putin noted.
Russia to resume nuclear testing if other countries do so
Putin also said Russia will resume its nuclear tests if it sees other countries do so,
“Someone is preparing these tests. We see it, we know it. And if they happen, we will do the same,” the Russian leader said.
Putin’s comments came after he proposed a one-year extension of the New START (START III) treaty, the last international agreement regulating strategic weapons, which is set to expire next February.
So far, Washington has not officially reacted to Moscow’s proposal.
“We know that there are people in the United States who say, ‘We don’t need any extension. If they don’t need it, neither do we,” he said.
Vladimir Putin stated that the level of modernity of Russia’s nuclear weapons is higher than that of any other country in the world at the Valdai Conference plenary session.
“We’re doing well in this regard. I mean, our level of modernity is higher than any other nuclear country in the world. We’ve simply worked hard and long on this,” Putin said.
He noted that Russia and the United States have reached a “parity” in strategic weapons.
As an example, he cited Russia’s new Oreshnik ballistic missile and hypersonic missiles such as the Kinzhal and Avangard.
However, he stressed that Russia is willing to take a break and work with the Americans on extending START if they deem it appropriate. EFE
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