Russia issues brutal response to US after Pete Hegseth's 'prepare for war' warning

Russia has issued a brutal response to the US after Pete Hegseth's said the US must 'prepare for war' amid rising tensions in Europe.

Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Hegseth spoke at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, where he issued a stern warning to Americans.

"From this moment forward, the only mission of the newly restored Department of War is this: Warfighting," the government official said.

"Preparing for war and preparing to win. Unrelenting and uncompromising in that pursuit. Not because we want war. No one here wants war. But it's because we love peace."

Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin has since issued a response to the comments, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters on Wednesday (October 1): "We also prefer to strengthen our armed forces in every possible way, remaining full supporters of peace and remaining open to solving all problems, including the Ukrainian crisis, through diplomatic negotiations and political contacts."

Putin and Russia has issued a brutal response (ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Hegseth took the opportunity in his speech to declare an end to 'woke' culture in the US military, and said he no longer wanted to see overweight troops in combat units.

"It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon leading commands around the country, in the world, it’s a bad look," the defence secretary said.

He added: "It all starts with physical fitness and appearance. If the Secretary of War can do regular, hard PT [physical training], so can every member of our joint force.

"Today at my direction, every member of the joint force, at every rank, is required … [to] meet height and weight requirements twice a year, every year."

Hegseth concluded: "No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses, no more climate change worship, no more division, distraction or gender delusion, no more debris. I've said before and will say again, we are done with that s***."

Pete Hegseth has previously issued a 'prepare for war' warning (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Donald Trump said that he would be moving to change the name of the Department of Defense back to the Department of War, reversing the clock by almost eight decades.

A reporter asked the president: "On the Department of War, how do you plan to do that? It requires an act of Congress to rename the Defense Department..."

The president replied: "We're just going to do it. I'm sure Congress will go along if we need that ... Defense is too defensive. We want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive, too, if we have to be."

He added: "You know, we call it the Department of Defense, but between us, I think we're going to change the name. You want to know the truth. I think we're going to have some information on that, may be soon."