Putin Could Deploy Russian Missiles If NATO Countries Cross Ukraine ‘Red Line’

President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday Russia is willing to deploy certain offensive missile capabilities on Ukrainian soil if NATO countries cross a Ukraine “red line” by deploying weapons or soldiers.

NATO leaders have been meeting in Latvia to discuss Moscow’s uptick of troops and discuss military contingencies in case of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia, however, has warned NATO against expanding its military infrastructure in Ukraine, Al Jazeera noted.

"If some kind of strike systems appear on the territory of Ukraine, the flight time to Moscow will be 7-10 minutes, and five minutes in the case of a hypersonic weapon being deployed. Just imagine," Putin said at an investment forum in Moscow.

Tensions have soared following a buildup of nearly 100,000 Russian troops, as well as tanks, artillery, and even short-range ballistic missiles, within striking distance of Ukraine’s borders, The Guardian reported.

"What are we to do in such a scenario? We will have to then create something similar in relation to those who threaten us in that way," Putin said. "And we can do that now."

Putin said that he hoped NATO countries would have common sense, adding that Russia has its own security concerns around Ukraine. He hopes the military alliance will stop helping Kyiv expand its military infrastructure, Reuters reported.

"Creating such threats [in Ukraine] would be red lines for us. But I hope it doesn't come to that. I hope that a sense of common sense, responsibility for both our countries and the world community will prevail," said Putin.

The Russian leader has dismissed any suggestions that his country is preparing for an attack, but he did confirm that Russia had just successfully tested a new sea-based hypersonic missile that traveled at nine times the speed of sound.

Western countries have been raising alarms over Russian military activity near Ukraine, sparking concerns of a possible invasion.