Putin: Poland and Romania may be in Russia’s crosshairs
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
28.05.2016 09:21
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Poland and Romania could find themselves “in the crosshairs” of Moscow over their decision to host U.S.-led NATO missile shield bases.
Russian President Vladimir Putin with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Photo: EPA/ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU/POOL
“If yesterday those parts of Romania did not know what it means to be in the crosshairs, then today we will be forced to take some measures to ensure our security," Putin said at a joint press conference in Athens on Friday with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
"It will be the same case with Poland," he added.
Putin stressed that Russia was responding to moves by the United States. "We will not take any action until we see rockets in areas that neighbor us," he said.
The United States activated a defence base in Deveselu, Romania, on May 12, while the next day Poland officially launched the construction of a US missile shield base in the northern town of Redzikowo.
Shortly afterwards, at a meeting with military officials, Putin warned: “We are forced to think about neutralizing developing threats to Russia’s security, related to the deployment of the missile shield in Europe.”
Poland has been pressing for a stronger NATO presence in Central and Eastern Europe in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. (ał/pk)