RUSSIAN leader Vladimir Putin says his country is ready to develop new weapons systems “in response to other countries doing the same” as fears of a conflict with North Korea continue to mount.
The President also said Russia had “caught up to the US” with its missile technology.
And he pledged to back out of a key nuclear disarmament treaty – which was signed to deescalate the threat of nuclear war in 1987 – if the US did the same.
Speaking in Sochi this afternoon, Mr Putin said Moscow is ready to develop new weapons systems – both nuclear and non-nuclear – in response to other countries doing the same.
Both the United States and Russia have been gradually reducing their nuclear arsenals since the height of the Cold War in the 1960s.
And in 1987, the rival nations signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), which banned the construction or stockpile or nuclear-tipped missiles with ranges up to 3,500 miles.
But earlier this month American media reported President Donald Trump had suggested to his defence chiefs the US should have a nuclear arsenal 10 times larger than its current arsenal of around 4,000 warheads.
Mr Putin promised a “symmetrical” response if the US backed out of the INF Treaty.
However Mr Trump has since denied ever suggesting any nuclear build up and claimed the story had been fabricated by the press.
He said: “I know the capability we have, believe me, and it is awesome. It is massive.
“So when they make up stories like that, that’s just made up, and the generals will tell you that.”
Earlier in his address to academics and journalists at the Valdi discussion group, the Russian leader took a swipe at President Donald Trump by saying the situation in North Korea should be resolved diplomatically, not with “insolent” threats.
More to follow…