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         Criticizing NATO, Putin Underlines Need for Nuclear Deterrence

   by Reuters

   President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday Russia must maintain its
   nuclear deterrence because of what he described as a growing number of
   possible security threats.

   With ties between Moscow and the West tense over the crisis in Ukraine,
   Putin signed a decree that gives him more control over a commission
   that oversees the defense industry and made a new call for Russia to
   become less reliant on Western parts.

   He said NATO was using rhetoric over the Ukraine crisis to "resuscitate
   itself" and noted that Russia had warned repeatedly that it would have
   to respond to such moves.

   Shortly before he spoke, Russia carried out a successful test of its
   new submarine-launched Bulava intercontinental missile, which can carry
   a nuclear warhead.

   "We need a reliable and complete assessment of the potential threats to
   Russia's military security. For each of these threats a sufficient,
   adequate response should be found," he told a Kremlin meeting of
   government officials from the defense sector.

   "First of all, we are talking about creating a rational series of
   assault capabilities including maintaining a guaranteed solution to the
   task of nuclear deterrence."

   He said Russia must ensure it develops high-precision weapons in the
   next few years but added: "Someone might want to start a new arms race.
   We are not going to take part in that, of course." "

   Russia is slated to spend over 20 trillion roubles ($536.81 billion) on
   the modernization of its army, which is still largely reliant on
   Soviet-era weapons and arms technologies.

   Putin reiterated that Moscow would find ways to replace defense
   industry imports, lost because of European Union and U.S. sanctions
   imposed in the Ukraine crisis.

   "We are not planning to intentionally stop cooperation with our foreign
   partners...(but) our industry should be able to produce critically
   important equipment, components and materials," he said.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/putin-criticizes-nato-underlines-need
   -for-nuclear-deterrence/2444929.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/putin-criticizes-nato-underlines-need-for-nuclear-deterrence/2444929.html