Putin ally issues nuclear weapons warning sparking WW3 fears | World | News

A top Russian official has made a terrifying claim about his country’s nuclear weapons as World War III fears explode once again.

Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister in charge of ties with the US, non-proliferation and arms control, told reporters today that he would not “rule out any options” when it comes to Russia’s use of nuclear weapons.

He was specifically asked whether Russia could deploy nuclear missiles in response to the US’s plan to deploy long-range fire capabilities in Germany.

He said: “If representatives of the Federal Government of Germany consider it justified to begin some escalatory measures under the pretext of what we have in [the Kaliningrad] region, then we will respond in terms of compensatory measures in the way that we consider most acceptable.

“Nothing is predetermined, including the further escalation of the situation. Unfortunately, for now, the West, under far-fetched pretexts, in search of reasons to attribute something to us again from the point of view of an encroachment on its security, is following precisely this escalation path.

“This is regrettable, but it will not stop us from the point of view of solving the problems of ensuring our security along the entire perimeter of the Russian borders, including, of course, the zone of the [war in Ukraine].”

The US and Germany revealed their latest step in their alliance in a joint statement announcing Washington will deploy longer-range missiles in Germany in 2026, including SM-6, Tomahawk, and developmental hypersonic weapons.

Their joint statement said these weapons “have significantly longer range than current land-based fires in Europe”.

They added that exercising “advanced capabilities” will “demonstrate the US commitment to NATO and its contributions to European integrated deterrence.”

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told Tageblatt in response: “The world has become more uncertain than it was five or ten years ago. We have to protect ourselves as best we can.

“What the US will do in Germany from 2026 onward is nothing other than counteract the Russian threat of stationing Iskander [missiles] in Kaliningrad. Then deterrence will work again.

“If it is clear to everyone that Germany and NATO are able to defend themselves successfully, the likelihood that we will be attacked will decrease.”