Russia calls US troop withdrawal from Europe 'rational, long-overdue'

Withdrawal would be 'rational, long-overdue'

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Moscow is closely monitoring Washington's statements regarding a possible reconfiguration of US military forces in Europe. Speaking at a press briefing in the Russian capital, she described the withdrawal of American troops from the continent — stationed there for decades under the pretext of a "Russian threat" — as a rational and long-overdue step toward stabilizing the region's military-political situation.

Zakharova noted that Washington appears to be tying its planned force reconfiguration to European allies' "reliability," including their willingness to boost military spending and purchase American weapons. She stated that such actions are directed against Russia and would therefore deepen confrontation between Moscow and the Western bloc while further intensifying military tensions across Europe.

Warning over Poland deployment

The spokeswoman also warned against the possible redeployment of US military bases from less "reliable" countries to Central and Eastern European states considered more aligned with Washington's policies, particularly Poland. She explained that the deployment of additional American military infrastructure close to Russia's western borders would force Moscow to adopt "necessary military-technical measures to ensure national security." She added that such steps could lead to a "qualitative escalation" of military tensions amid what she called an "increasingly provocative policy by European allies of the US toward Moscow."

Nuclear forces on alert

Responding to a question regarding the discovery of a Ukrainian drone equipped with a US Starlink system at the site of a May 22 attack in Starobilsk, Zakharova addressed concerns about whether such incidents could affect the Moscow Declaration on strategic nuclear weapons. She emphasized that Russia's strategic nuclear forces remain on constant alert and are ready to carry out combat missions immediately upon receiving orders, stating: "As a result, a potential adversary is forced to reckon with the fact that the reliability of Russian nuclear deterrence is ensured at any moment and under any circumstances."