German lawmakers react strongly to US decision.
Zeit quoted Rolf Mützenich, the head of the Social Democratic Party in the Bundestag (German parliament), as saying that the deployment of US long-range missiles on German territory would increase the risk of military escalation.
He said, "We must improve our defensive capabilities, but we must not ignore the risks associated with this deployment."
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow would choose from a range of possible options when developing a response to the deployment of US long-range missiles in Germany, and did not rule out any option, including the deployment of similar weapons equipped with nuclear warheads. According to the Chairperson of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, Russia's response would be firm and appropriate; such weapons cannot be deployed in Germany.
