Putin straightforward: "We have every right to military response"

Putin straightforward: "We have every right to military response"

Moscow is extremely worried about the fact that the elements of the American anti-missile defense are being deployed near the Russian borders, and it has a full right to a military-technical response, he added.

"What is happening now, the tension that exists in Europe, is their fault," Putin said at a board meeting of the Ministry of Defense in an expanded composition, reports "Sputnik".

He added that Russia was forced to respond at every step, the situation was constantly deteriorating and degrading, and today it is again in a situation where it is forced to make certain decisions.

He also said that Russia would take adequate military-technical steps in the event of hostile moves by the United States. "We have every right to do so," Putin said, adding that Russia is not asking for any exclusive conditions, but only equal and indivisible security in Europe.

"If NATO's infrastructure continues to move and if it appears on the territory of Ukraine, the time it takes for missiles to reach the target will be reduced to 7 to 10 minutes, and hypersonic weapons to five minutes", Russian president warned.

Speaking about Russia's request for security guarantees from NATO and the United States, Putin said that it was necessary to have some legal, not just oral, guarantees.

"We know the price of such verbal assurances, words and promises well," he said.

"We need long-term legally binding guarantees, but we know that this cannot be believed because the United States easily withdraws from international agreements that become uninteresting to them for one reason or another," the Russian president said. Bad intentions interpret Russia's proposals on security guarantees as an ultimatum, but that is not the case, Putin said.

Russian President also warned of the possibility that the Western partners would "bury" all those efforts and proposals, and use the break to do what they want.

"Everyone should understand, it is clear to us, such a development will not satisfy us," Putin pointed out.

Anti-Russian policy of America

According to him, United States of America has been pursuing an anti-Russian policy in the euphoria of the so-called victories in the Cold War.

"Because of the bad, untrue assessment of the situation at that time and incorrect analysis of possible scenarios for the development of the situation. That is why, there are simply no other reasons," Putin said. He also referred to the events of the 1990s, asking what the West needed to support separatism in the North Caucasus. "Why was it necessary to support separatism in the North Caucasus? And with terrorist organizations? Obviously they supported terrorists. Why? Why was it necessary to expand NATO and withdraw from the missile defense agreement?" Putin asked. He added that Russia was fed up with the manipulations of the West under the guise of the principles of international law.

It should be reminded that on December 17, Russia announced draft agreements with the United States and NATO, which include, among other things, provisions on mutual security guarantees in Europe, non-deployment of medium-range and short-range missiles and refusal to further NATO expansion to the east, including at the expense of the former Republics of the USSR.