MOSCOW (Sputnik) — President Vladimir Putin said earlier on Tuesday that Russia would take appropriate measures to strengthen the capacity of its strategic nuclear forces and to build its own missile defense network in response to US plans to build global missile defenses.
The Russian leader also said that claims of alleged Iranian and North Korean nuclear threats conceal the true US intentions to deter Russia and gain military dominance over the country.
"The president has stated on numerous occasions the options that we choose are much cheaper, but more effective," Peskov told reporters in response to a question on possible spike in Russia's defense expenses in light of US global missile defense plans.
US officials repeatedly said that the European missile defense system is not aimed against Russia. Moscow, however, insisted on signing a legally binding document on the issue, but its requests have not been taken into account so far.
