Putin says Russia will target nations that host US missiles

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Wednesday that if the United States deploys intermediate-range missiles in Europe, Russia will target the nations that would host them.

The stern statement follows President Donald Trump’s announcement over the weekend that he intends to opt out of a 1987 nuclear arms control pact over alleged Russian violations.

Putin said he hoped the U.S. wouldn’t follow up by positioning intermediate-range missiles in Europe. Such a move would be a repeat of a 1980s Cold War showdown, he said.