Putin claims that the West is pressuring Russia to draw “red lines” and react

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was compelled to react after accusing the West of forcing Russia to its “red lines”—situations that it has made plain it will not tolerate.

Russia is keeping a close eye on the U.S. development and possible deployment of short- and medium-range missiles, Putin told a group of defense officials.

He claimed that if the United States proceeded to use its own missiles, Russia would remove all of its voluntary limitations on their use.

Putin claimed that Russian forces had seized 189 settlements in Ukraine so far this year and that the purpose of Russia’s nuclear weapons was deterrence.