Vladimir Putin recently delivered his annual state of the nation address on February 20th, 2019, in Moscow, Russia n which he reaffirmed that Russia will not allow the United States to put low range missles near Russia. Just a few days before, Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a treaty held between both the United States of American and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which requires the destruction of both parties ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles within ranges of 500 and 5,500 kilometers. Though Putin threatened the U.S. and their allied European countries, he says Russia “will not take the first steps to deploy missiles” in response to the U.S. leaving the INF treaty, but if the U.S. does decide to deploy any missiles that his words stand firm and Russia will take quick action against them and any neighboring European country with U.S. missiles stationed there.

Vladimir Putin said, “Among the US ruling class, there are a lot of people who are too taken with the idea of their exceptionalism, of their supremacy over everyone else.” He also warned that if the U.S. made advances to hurt “our country,” that Russian security would “take reciprocal actions and [Russia] will be reliably and unconditionally secured.” Putin also claimed that these threats will “force” Russia into making and deploying newer, and more effective weapons “which can be used in respect of those territories from which the direct threat to us originates, but also in respect of those territories where the centers of decision-making are located.” He also spoke about a new missile in the works, the advanced Tsirkon hypersonic missile, which is capable of reaching speeds of Mach 9. The missile is proceeding along the intended time frame and will be “completed on time.”

Vladimir Putin wanted good ties with the U.S, but he advises that Russia will continue to keep their guard up and will retaliate if necessary.