Putin says Russia will add more than 40 ICBMs to nuclear stockpile this year
- 9 years ago
There are fears a new cold war could be creeping up between Russia and the West.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country is beefing up its nuclear arsenal to counter U.S. plans to station tanks and heavy weapons near Russia's western border.
Sohn Jung-in has more.
Speaking at an arms fair just outside of Moscow on Tuesday, Putin said Russia would be adding dozens of new intercontinental ballistic missiles to its nuclear arsenal this year in an effort to modernize its armament program.
Reuters - edit no. 2306
"More than 40 new ICBMs able to overcome even the most technically advanced anti-missile defense systems will be added to the make-up of the nuclear arsenal this year."
Putin's announcement comes after reports the U.S. is pondering the deployment of tanks, fighting vehicles and other heavy weaponry for as many as five-thousand American troops in several Baltic and Eastern European countries, close to Russia's border.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was quick to denounce Russia's move, saying such rhetoric is why the Western alliance needs to bolster preparedness to defend its member states.
"This nuclear saber-rattling of Russia is unjustified, it's destabilizing and it's dangerous.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also expressed his concern as the standoff between the world's two largest nuclear powers heats up over the crisis in Ukraine.
With no indications pro-Russian separatist forces will back down from the region anytime soon, many fear relations will plunge even further.
Sohn Jung-in, Arirang News.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country is beefing up its nuclear arsenal to counter U.S. plans to station tanks and heavy weapons near Russia's western border.
Sohn Jung-in has more.
Speaking at an arms fair just outside of Moscow on Tuesday, Putin said Russia would be adding dozens of new intercontinental ballistic missiles to its nuclear arsenal this year in an effort to modernize its armament program.
Reuters - edit no. 2306
"More than 40 new ICBMs able to overcome even the most technically advanced anti-missile defense systems will be added to the make-up of the nuclear arsenal this year."
Putin's announcement comes after reports the U.S. is pondering the deployment of tanks, fighting vehicles and other heavy weaponry for as many as five-thousand American troops in several Baltic and Eastern European countries, close to Russia's border.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was quick to denounce Russia's move, saying such rhetoric is why the Western alliance needs to bolster preparedness to defend its member states.
"This nuclear saber-rattling of Russia is unjustified, it's destabilizing and it's dangerous.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also expressed his concern as the standoff between the world's two largest nuclear powers heats up over the crisis in Ukraine.
With no indications pro-Russian separatist forces will back down from the region anytime soon, many fear relations will plunge even further.
Sohn Jung-in, Arirang News.