US Air Force may deploy F-22 warplanes near Russia's border

The United States is planning to send warplanes to Europe in order to stop Russia’s “aggression” in the region, says US Air Force Secretary Deborah James.

Describing Moscow as “the biggest threat” in the region, James said it is “extremely worrisome on what's going” on in Ukraine.

"I could easily see the day -- though I couldn't tell you the day exactly -- when the F-22, for example, rotates in is a possibility. I don't see why that couldn't happen in the future," she was quoted as saying by Military.com.

Washington relations with Moscow are icy over the conflict in Ukraine. The Kremlin is accused of supporting pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

The New York Times reported last week the Pentagon is ready to station heavy military equipment in countries on Russia's border to face a possible “Russian aggression.”

Unnamed officials said the weaponry, which includes battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, was enough for as many as 5,000 American troops.

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin made an announcement following the Pentagon’s decisions for deploying more military equipment in Europe.

Putin announced that his country would add intercontinental ballistic missiles to its nuclear arsenal this year.

“More than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles, able to overcome even the most technically advance anti-missile defense systems, will be added to the make-up of the nuclear arsenal this year,” Putin said.

“If someone threatens our territories, it means that we will have to aim our armed forces accordingly at the territories from where the threat is coming,” he added.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned Putin’s announcement.

"It does concern me," Kerry said. "Nobody should hear that kind of announcement from a leader of a powerful country and not be concerned about what the implications are."

In an interview with Press TV over the weekend, American political commentator Stephen Lendman warned about Washington’s aggressive policies against Moscow, saying tensions with Russia may spark the flames of another world war.

“This is a willful provocation along with previous ones, along also with repeated belligerent military exercises, provocative events, provocative things going on to literally try to get Russia, to do something stupid to provoke a confrontation that America could blame on Russia,” Lendman said.

“The idea that America should continue theses provocations risk the possibility that we literally could have what I call the unthinkable another global war,” he added.

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