Putin Blames U.S. For Starting Arms Race

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Russian President Vladimir Putin blames the United States for restarting a new round of arms race. Meanwhile, Putin assured that Russia is not interested in having a confrontation against other countries.

Putin expressed his hope that there will be no new war in Europe. He also noted that Russia is strengthening its defense weapons in order to maintain strategic balance as a response to the U.S. deploying its anti-ballistic missile systems.

“I hope not,” he told the Swiss RTS TV channel during an interview, answering a question on whether a new war in Europe is probable or not today.

Meanwhile, Russian President expressed his desire for Europe to show more independence and sovereignty and be able to defend their national interests and the interests or their people. It does sound a little bit hilarious coming from Mr Putin, doesn’t it?

Putin also pointed out that the U.S. withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty signed in 1972 gave birth to “this new spiral of the arms race.” It must be noted that the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the treaty back in 2001.

“This treaty was a cornerstone of the entire system of international security,” he said. When the U.S. withdrew from the treaty and started creating anti-ballistic missile systems of strategic arms, Russia immediately responded that they would ‘have to’ respond to it in order to maintain strategic balance of power, according to Putin.

Putin blames ‘dishonest and thoughtless people’ for nuclear rhetoric

Putin noted that strategic balance of power is a way of maintaining peace in the whole world, and a way to prevent major military conflicts in Europe and other parts of the world.

Putin also explained his recent announcement to add 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles to Russia’s nuclear arsenal, which would be able to overcome “even the most technically advanced anti-missile defense systems.” He said that it was something that he had announced long ago, and has been in the Kremlin’s plans for a long time, but “publically” he announced it only now.

Russian President also underlined that any actions carried out by Moscow in the field of strategic defense ‘fully complies’ with international obligations by Russia, including those signed along with the U.S.

Answering a journalist’s questions about why the West so repeatedly claims about a nuclear threat from Russia, Putin noted that it is all being done by “dishonest and thoughtless people.”

Putin also hopes for a productive dialogue with both the West and Ukraine. He looks forward to establish relations with Europe and the U.S. on matters such as radical Islamism as well as other issues.

“I see now that the situation has changed. Europe and the United States have realized the real dangers of extreme manifestations of radicalism and joined in the fight. As the Russian people say – it is better late than never,” Russian President said.

Putin: the U.S. is a great power and Russians love Americans

Putin also said that with enough patience it is possible to work with their American counterparts on solving global issues, referring to the Iranian nuclear deal as an example.

“Undoubtedly, the United States is a great power. But it doesn’t mean that the current US authorities have any right to move around the world, seizing people and taking them to their prisons,” he said. He also added that he does not intend to “demonize” U.S. policy.

Putin also claims that U.S. “imperial policy” does damage to themselves. “Their imperial policy has long been around, and this is just a strengthening of this state,” Putin said.

Putin assured that Russia’s stance on U.S. foreign policy “has nothing to do with anti-Americanism,” adding that Russians “have respect and great love for the USA, and especially for the American people.”

Three scenarios for Putin to survive

So what does Moscow have left to do in order to ‘maintain strategic balance of power’? There are three probable scenarios that are worth looking into.

First of all, Russia might hunker down and focus on the country’s internal and foreign security. Russia would also attempt to increase the military might of Russia by modernizing its tactical and strategic nuclear weapons as well as stationing Russian forces closer to Western borders. Basically, this is something the Kremlin is already doing.

Second of all, Putin might attempt to divide and destabilize the West with the help of economic as well as political means. Russia would also have to go hardcore with its propaganda in some Russian-inclined Western states to form anti-Western forces in Europe. Also, it would allow the Russians to persuade the West to lift the sanctions. Basically, this kind of scenario would inevitably lead to a collapse of the European Union or even NATO as it is now.

Third of all, Russia might attempt to weaken the West by waging a war against it. Moscow would increase its military presence at the borders with NATO, triggering a round of fears over an upcoming war in Europe. This kind of scenario seem probable if Putin attempts to turn any kind of crisis in the West into an all-out war. And as we know, the West always has some crisis that it’s struggling with…

Unleashing an all-out war against the West would also be possible by attacking the Baltics. Ever since the crisis began, there has always been the risk of Putin ordering a military advance on the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Russia would then rely on the fact that the West is too weak to risk waging a war against a nuclear power for the independence of three small countries.

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