MOSCOW - The Kremlin says Russia will take countermeasures if the U.S. places new nuclear weapons at a base in Germany.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov's comments, reported Wednesday by Russian news agencies, came in response to a report by Germany's ZDF television that preparation is underway by the U.S. to station B61-12 nuclear bombs, which have been recently upgraded, at Buechel Air Base in Germany.

ZDF said its information was based on examination of U.S. federal budget reports. The claim couldn't immediately be confirmed.

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Peskov said "unfortunately, if this step is implemented ... it may disrupt the strategic balance in Europe and therefore will clearly make Russia take corresponding countermeasures to re-establish the balance."

He didn't specify what those measures might be.