On Monday, Vladimir Putin launched accusations against the West, claiming that it is pushing Russia toward its “red lines,” adding that Moscow is being forced to respond as “we’ve reached situations we have publicly stated we will not tolerate.”

The Russian president said in a meeting with defense ministry officials that Russia is closely monitoring the potential deployment of small- and medium-range missiles by the U.S., which, he said, “is terrorizing the world with a supposed attack from our side, just as they did in the past with the so-called Soviet threat.”

He further stated that Russia would lift all its voluntary restrictions on the deployment of its own missiles if the U.S. proceeds with the deployment of such missiles, noting that mass production of the new “Oreshnik” missiles would begin in the near future.

Putin, who mentioned that Russian forces in Ukraine have taken control of 189 settlements so far this year, emphasized that Russia’s nuclear weapons exist for deterrence.