US missiles in Germany could make European capitals targets: Kremlin

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Dmitry Peskov described to the situation as a “paradox,” indicating that while Russia has the means to respond, European capitals could be at risk.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with the new cabinet members at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (AP)

The Kremlin warned on Saturday that stationing US missiles in Germany might transform European capitals into targets for Russian missiles, echoing Cold War-style confrontations.

“Europe is a target for our missiles, our country is a target for US missiles in Europe”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in reference of a “paradox.”

“We have enough capacity to contain these missiles but the potential victims are the capitals of these countries,” he added.

Earlier today, German news outlets Der Spiegel and Bild revealed that the German Defense Ministry has laid out contingency plans for a possible military conflict with Russia.

According to the two media outlets, the plan outlines Germany’s crucial role as a transit state for NATO troops, with expectations for its population and civil services to support foreign military personnel.

In its report on Friday, Der Spiegel claimed that under the classified ‘Operational Plan Germany’ (OPLAN DEU), Germany should be able to facilitate the transfer of 800,000 NATO troops and approximately 200,000 vehicles, including tanks and other hardware, from ports in the Netherlands and Belgium to the East within three to six months.

Several key highways would be used for this purpose, thus requiring their closure to civilian traffic.

Both media outlets stated that local communities would be expected to provide passing military personnel with food, housing, resting areas, and fuel.

Last month, for the first time since 1989, the German government officially updated its wartime guidelines. The new guidelines include measures such as mandatory conscription and compelling manufacturers to produce war goods.

Last month, Tino Chrupalla, co-leader of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, urged Scholz to host peace negotiations on Ukraine within Germany rather than transforming the nation into a NATO “military outpost.”

“You are increasingly making us its [NATO’s] military outpost. Make better use of [Hungarian Prime Minister] Viktor Orban’s presidency in the EU Council and invite all warring parties to peace talks in Germany. That would be a sign of sovereignty,” Chrupalla said, speaking in the German parliament after Scholz.

Chrupalla also questioned why Germany’s NATO allies have not assisted in investigating terrorist attacks on the nation’s vital infrastructure, seemingly referencing the explosions at the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines in September 2022.