US Continues Ukraine Patriot Missile Production Talks Despite Trump’s Concerns 
New Zealand MMP Electoral System Faces Fresh Referendum Debate 
Rubio, UK’s Miliband Stress Stronger European Security Role in Washington Talks 
US Expands Social Media Vetting to Foreign Journalists Seeking Visas 
U.S., Iran, Oman Near Interim Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Ceasefire Efforts 
Trump Urges Exxon, Chevron to Cut Gas Prices After Record Oil Profits 
Canada, US Hold Constructive Trade Talks as Tariff Negotiations Continue 
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing as Hopes Rise for Strait of Hormuz Reopening 
New Mexico Sues DOJ Over Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein Files Amid Ongoing Investigation 
Zelensky Urges Faster NATO Action on Air Defense Missiles 
Andy Burnham’s Social Media Strategy Boosts Labour Against Reform UK 
Russian Strikes on Ukraine Kill Six, Wound Dozens in Balakliia and Sumy 
Taiwan Launches Major Han Kuang Military Drills to Strengthen Wartime Readiness 
North Korea May Deploy 120 Missiles to Russia 
Bezalel Smotrich Faces Election Battle as Israel’s Far-Right Vote Fractures 
Trump Orders Probe Into Pentagon Munitions Stockpile Leaks After Iran Conflict 
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stated they have ample nuclear weapons developed and ready to be deployed if needed. A few days later, a state-run TV news outlet elaborated this statement and listed several United States military facilities as potential targets.
Putin’s latest threats came out a few weeks after the U.S. ultimately withdrew from the Cold War-era nuclear arms control agreement called the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed in December 1987. “If they create threats to us, they should be aware of the potential consequences, so that they will not accuse us of unnecessary aggressiveness or whatever later,” Putin said in a Feb. 20 Russia's Federal Assembly event (via Ars Technica).
U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo announced on Feb. 1 that the country is officially backing out of the INF Treaty. He said the U.S. is merely responding “appropriately” after accusing Russia of violating the terms of the agreement “without remorse” for several years.
At the same state affair, Putin specified some of Russia’s latest nuclear weapons developed and reportedly said they would target submarines and ships armed with nuclear missiles first. The Russian president further explained they have a nuke that can reach its target “at a speed of Mach 9” or more than 10,000 kilometers per hour.
Putin added, “Do the maths. The distance of 1,000 kilometers at Mach 9. How soon, in how many minutes, can these weapons reach their targets? … How long would it take to reach the decision-making centers that are creating threats to us? The calculation is not in their favor, at least, not today."
Then, earlier this week, news anchor Dmitry Kiselyov followed up on Putin’s statements through a special segment in their TV program. Kiselyov mentioned the Pentagon and the U.S. President retreat estate Camp David in Maryland as possible targets.
Meanwhile, Putin also reiterated they have no intentions or plans to actually deploy their nukes at the moment. However, he implied they are ready to overturn that once the United States deploys its own weapons and reach European territory.
