Top German diplomat opposes deployment of US medium-range missiles in Europe

BERLIN, December 26. /TASS/. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has spoken out against the deployment of US medium-range missiles with nuclear warheads in Europe in the event of Washington’s withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

"Europe should not turn into a platform for discussions on arms buildup under any circumstances," the minister said in an interview with the DPA news agency published on Wednesday.

"The deployment of new medium-range missiles in Germany would encounter huge dissatisfaction."

"Nuclear weapons buildup would be a totally erroneous response," Maas stressed, commenting on accusations of violating the INF Treaty against Russia. "The policy of the 1980s will not help answer modern-day questions."