Russia says it would be forced to take countermeasures to restore the "balance of power" in Europe if media reports saying the United States plans to upgrade nuclear weapons in Germany are accurate.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made his comments on September 23 based on a report by Germany's ZDF television station that the United States intends to put 20 new tactical nuclear bombs at the Buechel Air Base in Germany later this year.
Peskov said such a move would "could alter the balance of power in Europe" and would demand that Russia "take necessary countermeasures to restore the strategic balance and parity."
He added that the upgrading of the nuclear bombs at the air base would be "another step...toward the escalation of tensions on the European continent."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on September 22 that Moscow was concerned about Washington's plans to modernize its nuclear weapons in Germany.