 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Putin Stresses Russias Need For Nuclear Deterrent
Moscow (AFP) Mar 31, 2006 Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday his country needed to maintain a nuclear deterrent to guarantee its security, Russian news agencies reported. "An analysis of the international situation forces Russia to view the nuclear deterrent as a fundamental necessity for security," Ria Novosti quoted Putin during a meeting about the nuclear defence industry. "Keeping a minimum supply of nuclear warheads and maintaining our nuclear deterrent is a priority for Russia. "Just as in the past, Russia must be sure that its nuclear arsenal is up to the demands of the modern world," Putin added. Russia considers itself free to modernise its nuclear missile force, including multiple warhead weapons, because the START II strategic arms reduction agreement has not yet come into force. In recent months Putin has said several times that his country will soon acquire new nuclear arms capable of penetrating all existing defence systems START II, which was signed in 1993, is aimed at reducing the number of nuclear warheads held by the United States and Russia, to 3,500 and 3,000 respectively. But in May 2002 Putin and his US counterpart George W Bush signed a new agreement that largely overtook START II. The two countries pledged to cut the total number of nuclear warheads held between them from 6,000 to between 1,700 and 2,200 by 2012.
Source: Agence France-Presse Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links - Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Key Security Council Members Agree On Text For Iran Crisis
United Nations (AFP) Mar 30, 2006The five key members of the Security Council reached agreement here Wednesday on a statement urging Iran to abandon uranium enrichment activities and hope to have it approved by the full council later in the day, Britain's UN envoy said. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
