Peskov was reacting to a statement by Poland’s President Andrzej Duda earlier on Monday that Poland was ready to accept nuclear weapons on its territory.
“The military will analyze the situation. If these plans are implemented, all necessary steps will be taken to ensure our security,” Peskov said, as quoted by Reuters.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the possible deployment of American nuclear weapons in Poland “will immediately attract the attention of the General Staff of the Russian Army and will be taken into account in war planning,” and these facilities “will be on the list of authorized attack targets in the event of a direct conflict with NATO.”
Zakharova also described Duda’s statement as “provocative.”
‘We are ready for this,’ says Duda
“If there was such a decision by our allies to deploy nuclear weapons as part of nuclear sharing, also on our territory, to strengthen the security of NATO’s eastern flank, then we are ready for it,” said President Andrzej Duda in an interview for daily tabloid Fakt.
“Russia is increasingly militarizing the Kaliningrad region. Recently, it has been relocating its nuclear weapons to Belarus. If there was such a decision by our allies to deploy nuclear weapons
as part of nuclear sharing, also on our territory, to
strengthen the security of NATO's eastern flank, then we are ready for it. We are an ally in the North Atlantic Alliance and we also have commitments in this area,
so we simply implement a common policy,” he said.
The President was also asked about the possible withdrawal of the U.S. from NATO if Donald Trump becomes the President of the United States again.
“No, I know President Trump… He is a serious and tough player. You need to have strong elbows, and he therefore plays politics in a decisive manner. Not everyone is accustomed to it, not everyone likes it, but he is a rational person… I am confident about how America’s interests will be pursued if President Trump were to lead them again,” said President Duda.
PM Tusk’s reaction
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, referring to the president’s words, said at a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office that he was awaiting a meeting with Duda so that he could thoroughly understand the president’s intentions.
“I am looking forward to meeting President Duda, because
this matter directly and very clearly concerns Polish security.”
He also spoke about the “need for all of the initiatives to be meticulously prepared by all those responsible” and for “all to be convinced that this is what we want.”
“This is a massive and serious undertaking, so I would have to know all the circumstances that prompted the president to make this declaration.”
