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WORLD NEWS Friday 2 March 2018

Putin shows new Russian nuclear weapons: 'It isn't a bluff'

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV dent Donald Trump under- fense system would "even- “I want to tell all those a standing ovation at one
Associated Press stands the threats and that tually devalue the Russian who have fueled the arms point.
MOSCOW (AP) — An un- America is "moving forward nuclear arsenal if we sit with race over the last 15 years, “No one else in the world
derwater drone armed has anything like that,” Pu-
with a nuclear warhead tin said. “It may appear
powerful enough to sweep someday, but by that time,
away coastal facilities and we will develop something
aircraft carriers. new.”
A hypersonic vehicle im- State Department spokes-
possible to intercept as it woman Heather Nauert
flies in a cloud of plasma said it was “unfortunate” to
"like a meteorite." watch animation depict-
President Vladimir Putin ing “a nuclear attack on
said Thursday that Russia the United States” that ac-
has these new strategic companied Putin’s speech,
weapons and many more, calling the video “cheesy”
declaring: "No one has lis- and adding that “we don’t
tened to us. You listen to us think it’s responsible.”
now." Putin said the nuclear-pow-
Putin unveiled the stunning ered cruise missile, which
catalog of doomsday ma- was tested last fall, has
chines in his annual state- a “practically unlimited”
of-the-nation speech, say- range, and its high speed
ing that Russia had to build In this Thursday, March 1, 2018 video grab, Russia's new Sarmat intercontinental missile is shown and maneuverability allow
them to counter the poten- at an undisclosed location in Russia. President Vladimir Putin declared Thursday that Russia has it to pierce any missile de-
tial threat posed by the U.S. developed a range of new nuclear weapons, claiming they can't be intercepted by enemy. fense.
missile defense system. (RU-RTR Russian Television via AP) The high-speed underwa-
And in a touch of dark hu- ter drone also has an “in-
mor, he invited Russians to to modernize our nuclear our arms folded." sought to win unilateral tercontinental” range and
join a Defense Ministry con- arsenal and ensure our ca- He said the U.S. has under- advantages over Russia, is capable of slamming a
test to name some of the pabilities are unmatched." estimated Russia's ability to introduced unlawful restric- nuclear warhead into both
weapons. Pentagon spokeswom- mount a response, aiming tions and sanctions aimed aircraft carriers and coastal
It wasn't immediately pos- an Dana White also said for a "unilateral military ad- to contain our country’s facilities, he said. Its “very
sible to assess whether the the Defense Department vantage that could even- development: All what you big” operational depth
weapons could do what wasn't surprised, adding tually allow it to dictate its wanted to impede with and a speed that is many
Putin said or how ready that the U.S. military is pre- terms in other areas." your policies has now hap- times faster than any other
they are for deployment, pared to defend the na- The United States should pened,” he said. vessel would make it im-
but they would represent a tion. now revise its Russia policy “You have failed to contain mune to being intercepted
major technological break- White told Pentagon re- and engage in a serious di- Russia.” by the enemy, he added.
through that could dramat- porters that U.S. missile alogue on global security, Putin’s dramatic an- Another new weapon,
ically bolster Russia's military defense has never been he said. nouncement comes as he called Avangard, is an in-
capability, boost its global about Russia. "You will have to assess that seeks another six-year term tercontinental hypersonic
position and trigger a new Washington has consis- new reality and become on March 18, an election missile that would fly at 20
arms race. tently argued that missile convinced that what I said he is expected to win eas- times the speed of sound
The White House said Putin defense systems in Europe today isn't a bluff," he said. ily. and strike its targets “like a
confirmed what the U.S. aren't aimed at Moscow "It's not a bluff, trust me." His address was accompa- meteorite, like a fireball,”
has already known: that but designed instead to He said the creation of the nied by videos and com- he said.
Russia has been develop- defend against threats new weapons has made puter simulations of the The weapon is capable
ing "destabilizing weapons from Iran, North Korea and NATO's U.S.-led missile de- new weapons, shown on of performing sharp ma-
systems for over a decade rogue threats. fense "useless," putting an giant screens at a confer- neuvers on its way to tar-
in direct violations of its Putin has shrugged off end to what he described ence hall near the Kremlin. gets, making it “absolutely
treaty obligations." those arguments and said as years of Western efforts The audience of senior offi- invulnerable for any mis-
Spokeswoman Sarah Huck- Thursday that the U.S. plans to sidetrack and weaken cials and lawmakers broke sile defense system,” Putin
abee Sanders said Presi- to develop its missile de- Russia. into applause, giving him added.q