Russian President Vladimir Putin says
no country should maintain an illusion
that it can attain military superiority
over Moscow.
Speaking against a backdrop of escalation
of ten
sions between Russia and the West
over Ukraine on Friday, Putin said Russia
will never yield to foreign pressure.
"No one should have the illusion that
they can gain military superiority over
Russia, put any kind of pressure on it,”
Putin stated.
He added that the Russian military would
always have an "adequate answer for any
such adventures."
The Russian president said his country
would conduct a military modernization
program envisaging the deployment of
hundreds of new combat jets, missiles and
other weapons.
Russia has increased its military budget
by 33 percent to about 3.3 trillion rubles
(some $50 billion) this year despite an
economic recession caused by low oil
prices and Western sanctions against
Moscow over Ukraine.
Russia has been hit with a series of
sanctions by the US and the European
Union, which accuse Moscow of
supporting pro-Russia forces in eastern
Ukraine. Russia categorically denies the
allegation.
Donetsk and Lugansk are two mainly
Russian-speaking regions in eastern
Ukraine, which were hit by deadly clashes
between pro-Russia forces and the
Ukrainian army after Kiev launched
military operations in April last year to
crush pro-Russia protests there. Hopes were revived after leaders of
Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France
agreed on a truce deal last Thursday in
the Belarusian capital of Minsk. However,
clashes have continued with the two
sides claiming that they are committed to
implementing the ceasefire.
The fighting has taken a heavy toll on
thousands of people. More than 5,500
people have died and some 12,200
wounded in the conflict, the UN says.
Around 1.5 million people have been
also forced from their homes over the
past months of turmoil.
no country should maintain an illusion
that it can attain military superiority
over Moscow.
Speaking against a backdrop of escalation
of ten
sions between Russia and the West
over Ukraine on Friday, Putin said Russia
will never yield to foreign pressure.
"No one should have the illusion that
they can gain military superiority over
Russia, put any kind of pressure on it,”
Putin stated.
He added that the Russian military would
always have an "adequate answer for any
such adventures."
The Russian president said his country
would conduct a military modernization
program envisaging the deployment of
hundreds of new combat jets, missiles and
other weapons.
Russia has increased its military budget
by 33 percent to about 3.3 trillion rubles
(some $50 billion) this year despite an
economic recession caused by low oil
prices and Western sanctions against
Moscow over Ukraine.
Russia has been hit with a series of
sanctions by the US and the European
Union, which accuse Moscow of
supporting pro-Russia forces in eastern
Ukraine. Russia categorically denies the
allegation.
Donetsk and Lugansk are two mainly
Russian-speaking regions in eastern
Ukraine, which were hit by deadly clashes
between pro-Russia forces and the
Ukrainian army after Kiev launched
military operations in April last year to
crush pro-Russia protests there. Hopes were revived after leaders of
Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France
agreed on a truce deal last Thursday in
the Belarusian capital of Minsk. However,
clashes have continued with the two
sides claiming that they are committed to
implementing the ceasefire.
The fighting has taken a heavy toll on
thousands of people. More than 5,500
people have died and some 12,200
wounded in the conflict, the UN says.
Around 1.5 million people have been
also forced from their homes over the
past months of turmoil.
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