US Criticizes ‘Irresponsible Rhetoric’ After Putin Hints at New Arms Race in Europe

Washington has criticized “irresponsible” warnings by Moscow that Russian forces would respond—in kind—to the planned deployment of long-range U.S. missile systems to Germany. Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week that Moscow would deploy novel “strike systems”—presumably aimed at Western targets—in response to the planned U.S. missile deployments, which are set to begin in 2026. A State Department spokesperson described the Russian leader’s assertions as “more irresponsible rhetoric” by Moscow. “The Kremlin’s aggression against Ukraine is the most significant and direct threat to Europe’s security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area,” the spokesperson told The Epoch Times....