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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Putin vows 'arms race' response | Putin vows 'arms race' response |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Russia's President Vladimir Putin says the world is engaged in a new arms race and Nato is failing to accommodate Russia's concerns. | Russia's President Vladimir Putin says the world is engaged in a new arms race and Nato is failing to accommodate Russia's concerns. |
| In a nationally-televised speech, he condemned Nato's expansion and the US plan to include Poland and the Czech Republic in a missile defence shield. | |
| "It is already clear that a new phase in the arms race is unfolding in the world," Mr Putin said. | "It is already clear that a new phase in the arms race is unfolding in the world," Mr Putin said. |
| "It is not our fault, because we did not start it," he said. | |
| Russia has, and always will have, responses to these new challenges Vladimir PutinRussian President | |
| Mr Putin was speaking less than a month before Russians elect his successor. | |
| In his speech, to the State Council - Russia's top politicians, officials and generals - he said other countries were spending far more than Russia on new weapons. | |
| But Russia would always respond to the challenges of a new arms race by developing more hi-tech weaponry, he said. | But Russia would always respond to the challenges of a new arms race by developing more hi-tech weaponry, he said. |
| Military muscle | Military muscle |
| Referring to Nato's activities in Central and Eastern Europe, Mr Putin said "there are many discussions on these, but... we have still not seen any real steps towards finding a compromise". | Referring to Nato's activities in Central and Eastern Europe, Mr Putin said "there are many discussions on these, but... we have still not seen any real steps towards finding a compromise". |
| "In effect, we are forced to retaliate, to take corresponding decisions. Russia has, and always will have, responses to these new challenges," he said. | "In effect, we are forced to retaliate, to take corresponding decisions. Russia has, and always will have, responses to these new challenges," he said. |
| Russia has been using oil revenues to bolster its military | |
| In December, Russia said it was planning naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. | In December, Russia said it was planning naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. |
| It has also resumed long-range patrols by its bomber aircraft. | It has also resumed long-range patrols by its bomber aircraft. |
| The practice was suspended after the collapse of the Soviet Union and was revived last August, as part of a more assertive foreign policy pursued by President Putin. | The practice was suspended after the collapse of the Soviet Union and was revived last August, as part of a more assertive foreign policy pursued by President Putin. |
| Higher oil prices have enabled Russia to re-invest in its armed forces, but its military capabilities remain far below what they were during the Soviet era. | |
| The BBC's World Affairs correspondent Nick Childs says Mr Putin's language will add to growing worries in the West about Russia's new assertiveness. | |
| Our correspondent says there was a time when Moscow appeared weakened, short of money, preoccupied with domestic problems, and relatively passive in terms of foreign policy. | |
| But he says it is clear that Mr Putin is sending a none-too-subtle message that Russia is back on the international stage. |