Putin Says Nuke Deterrent Remains Priority
Maintaining enough nuclear weapons for a strong nuclear deterrent is the top priority in Russia’s security strategy, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. Putin, in an address on Russia’s nuclear weapons program, said uncertainty in the international situation made it necessary to retain a sufficient number of nuclear weapons, which he did not specify. In May 2002, Putin and President Bush signed a treaty that obliged both sides to cut their strategic nuclear arsenals by about two-thirds — to between 1,700 and 2,200 warheads — by 2012. Full Story