This is the latest signal from Moscow that there is the threat of a Cold War style nuclear war and came after Putin ordered the military to analyse the US threat.The Russian Defence Ministry has released footage showing an Iskander missile being fired from a launchpad at a secret site. The missile was launched from the Kapustin Yar rocket launch and development facility in Astrakhan, southwestern Russia.
The range of this missile extends to 310 miles so it would be able to reach targets in Eastern and Central Europe.
In August, Putin made it clear that Moscow would develop short and intermediate-range nuclear missiles if the United States did the same after the collapse of an arms treaty.
The United States formally left the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with Russia after it claimed that Moscow was violating the treaty.
However, the Kremlin denied that they had already deployed one banned type of missile.
President Donald Trump decided to leave the INF treaty in February giving six months notice.
The treaty was signed by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987.
The pact banned land-based missiles with a range of between 310 and 3,400 miles, which would make it a lot more difficult to launch a nuclear strike at short notice.
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Regarding the threat of the US on Russia, Putin said: “Considering the newly emerging circumstances, I instruct the Defence Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, and other specialised agencies to analyse the level of the threat, which the above-mentioned U.S. moves are creating for our country, and take comprehensive measures for preparing a symmetric response.”
Beijing has urged the US to “let go of cold war mentality” after it fired a nuclear-capable weapon.
Last week Mr Trump made it clear he wanted the US to dominate the air spaces.
Mr Trump said: “SpaceCom will ensure that America’s dominance in space is never threatened.
“This is a landmark day, one that recognised the centrality of space to America’s security and defence.”