Moscow, Oct 2 (EFE). – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday the Tomahawk missiles Washington plans to deliver to Kyiv are a \u201cpowerful\u201d weapon and warned that their use will cause tensions between Moscow and Washington to escalate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u200bHowever, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to US Vice President JD Vance, Washington is considering authorizing the shipment of Tomahawk precision missiles to Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Thursday, Putin also responded to United States President Donald Trump\u2019s comments last week, saying that Russia is not a \u201cpaper tiger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Russian President added that the remarks may have been ironic while underscoring his relationship with Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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 (\u2026). So he said to his interlocutor: ‘paper tiger,’ and then something else might happen, go and deal with this ‘paper tiger’,” Putin noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Putin also said Russia will resume its nuclear tests if it sees other countries do so, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Someone is preparing these tests. We see it, we know it. And if they happen, we will do the same,” the Russian leader said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Putin\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So far, Washington has not officially reacted to Moscow’s proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He noted that Russia and the United States have reached a “parity” in strategic weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As an example, he cited Russia’s new Oreshnik ballistic missile and hypersonic missiles such as the Kinzhal and Avangard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
mos\/mcd<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"