Russia’s foreign ministry today has hit out at the UK’s threats and ultimatums, warning Prime Minister Theresa May to keep Vladimir Putin’s military might in mind.
Yesterday the PM’s midnight ultimatum for an explanation on the Salisbury poison attack was ignored and instead met with a furious response from Russia.
Kremlin spokeswoman Maria Zakharova last night pointedly referenced Putin’s state-of-the-union address earlier this month, during which he boasted of a huge new nuclear missile capable of smashing through defence systems.
Ms Zakharova said: “Bearing in mind what the president said, no one can appear in his or her country’s parliament to say ‘I give Russia 24 hours’.
“No one knows anything, including Theresa May, who has no actual fact in her hands.”
On March 1, Putin showed off an array of new nuclear weapons including a fearsome ICBM capable of rendering defence systems “useless”.
He also boasted of new supersonic missiles which will be able to fly at 20 times the speed of sound, which he said would make his Western rivals sit up and take notice.
Putin said: “I want to tell all those who have fuelled the arms race over the last 15 years, sought to win unilateral advantages over Russia, introduced unlawful sanctions aimed to contain our country’s development: you have failed to contain Russia.
“The West has ignored us. Nobody listened to us. Well listen to us now.”
He said the new ICBM is “powerful and modern”, adding “defence systems will not be able to withstand it, missile defences will be useless against it”.
In a dire warning which takes on an even graver importance following this week’s ratcheting-up of tension, Mr Putin said: “We have everything we need.
“Any kind of attack against Russia or its allies will be regarded as a nuclear attack against Russia and in response we will take action instantaneously no matter what the consequences are.
“Nobody should have any doubt about that.”