163In case of a real threat to security, Russia will immediately target weapons not only at the countries where Washington will deploy its weapons, but also at the United States itself. This was announced on Wednesday, February 20, by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his Address to the Federal Assembly.
— Russia will be forced to create and deploy types of weapons that can be used not only in those areas from which we will emanate a direct threat, but also in those areas where decision-making centers use the missile systems threatening us, — Putin said, commenting on the US withdrawal from the Treaty on Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles.
The President of the Russian Federation underlined that he is talking about this directly and openly, so that no one could then reproach Russia, that everyone should understand in advance what is being said.
As the Channel Five reported, in the Address to the Federal Assembly, Putin said that the Russian Federation would not be the first to deploy medium-range and shorter-range missiles in Europe, but Moscow’s response would be a mirror one.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual Address to the Federal Assembly on Wednesday, February 20, at the Gostiny Dvor in Moscow. This appeal to both houses of parliament for the head of state is the 15th in a row.
In addition to both houses of parliament, the event was attended by members of the government, chairmen of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, the Prosecutor General, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission, the head of the Accounts Chamber, members of the State Council, the Public Chamber, heads of major religions, leaders of regions and cities of federal importance, and journalists.
761 journalists from Russian and foreign media were accredited for covering the event.