Vladimir Putin warns Russia is ready to develop new nuclear weapons

Russia President Vladimir Putin
REUTERS
Hatty Collier19 October 2017

Vladimir Putin has said Russia is ready to develop new nuclear weapons systems if the US quits an important nuclear treaty.

He warned that Russia would respond “immediately and symmetrically” if the US quits the intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty.

Speaking at a forum with scholars, the Russian President said his country was ready to develop both nuclear and non-nuclear weapons in response to other countries doing the same.

Mr Putin said Russia would adhere to a landmark Cold War-era arms control treaty for as long as the US sticks to it to.

Donald Trump has been warned against quitting the intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty.
REUTERS

At the Valdai forum of international policy experts in Sochi, Mr Putin said Russia has stuck to its obligations under the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty and will continue to do so.

US officials have accused Russia of developing missiles in violation of the treaty, a charge Russia has denied.

Putin said the 1987 accord was tilted in the USA's favour, effectively amounting to "unilateral disarmament," as it failed to ban missiles carried by navy ships and aircraft that the US had and the Soviet Union did not.

North Korea propaganda video shows missiles blowing up US targets

He said Russia has since developed such cruise missiles for its navy and air force.

The Russian President also warned against driving North Korea into a corner.

While condemning Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, Mr Putin said the stand-off should be settled through dialogue without "cornering North Korea, threatening to use force or going down to outright boorishness and swearing."

He criticised the US and its allies for missing a chance to build a safer and more stable world after the Cold War.

The Russian leader also noted that the US has been slow to dismantle its chemical weapons arsenals in line with an international treaty, while Russia last month wrapped up the destruction of its chemical weapons stockpiles.