Russia 'will retaliate' if Nato stores heavy weapons on its doorstep

Independent.co.uk reports: A US government plan to place tanks and heavy weapons in Nato countries bordering Russia would be the most aggressive step by the Pentagon since the Cold War, a Russian defence official has said. The US has said it would keep the weapons on allied territory to reassure governments who are reportedly frustrated that Nato has not done more to deter Russia. “If heavy US military equipment, including tanks, artillery batteries and other equipment really does turn up in countries in eastern Europe and the Baltics, that will be the most aggressive step by the Pentagon and Nato since the Cold War,” Russian defence ministry official General Yuri Yakubov said. “Russia will have no option but to build up its forces and resources on the Western strategic front,” Interfax news agency quoted him as saying. Russia’s response could include delivering missiles to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad between Poland and Lithuania. It would also, Yakubov said, look to increase troop numbers in Belarus. “Our hands are completely free to organise retaliatory steps to strengthen our Western frontiers,” Yakubov said....