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Putin: US Trying To Neutralise Russian Nuclear Capability

Vladimir Putin says the US is trying to "neutralise Russia’s nuclear potential” by strengthening its missile defences in Europe - and that he will respond.

The Russian President says America is attempting to hide its true motives for the development of NATO missile defence systems by referring to the nuclear threats of Iran and North Korea - when the real target is Russia.

Mr Putin is reported as saying by RT:

“References to Iran and North Korea nuclear threats are just a cover for the true purpose [of NATO missile defence]. That is to neutralise the potential of other nuclear states - primarily Russia.”

“The US is attempting to achieve strategic military superiority, with all the consequences that entails.”

It comes after Iran struck a landmark nuclear deal with world powers in July to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for easing sanctions.

More from Forces TV: Russia to Deliver Controversial Missile System to Iran

It's faced strong resistance from Iran's hardliners, who see the deal as a capitulation to the West by moderates they oppose, and have sought to undermine it as a result.

Mr Putin argued, however, that his country has been told that Iran is the main nuclear threat, and so questioned why work on missile defences is continuing following the signing of the nuclear treaty.

He said: “Now, the Iranian problem is off the table – treaties have been signed and ratified. Yet, the work on missile defence continues, as before," adding that Russia would take the “necessary measures to respond by strengthening its own missile defence.”

“And at the first stage we are also going to develop strike weapons that can penetrate any missile defence shield.”

See below - US destroyer USS Ross recently carried out the first live intercept of a ballistic target in Europe, fired by the Royal Navy, as part of a multi-national exercise:

The Russian President added that his country's defence industry and created and successfully tested a range of weapons that can operate against a multilayer missile defence system over the last three years.

Mr Putin argued that Russia's concerns about US missile defence have been "ignored", saying:

“We have pointed out that these actions [construction of the shield] are an attempt to undermine the nuclear parity principle, and to destabilise the existing world and regional order.”

The US ballistic missile shield is expected to become fully operational early in the next decade, and will consist of Aegis-equipped ships patrolling from Spain and rocket-equipped silos in Romania and Poland, with Turkey, Germany and other NATO members providing radar capability.