Putin: Russia's Strategic Defense Actions Comply With Int'l Commitments

Vladimir Putin says Russia's actions in the area of strategic defense fully comply with its international commitments.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia's actions in the area of strategic defense fully comply with its international commitments, including in the framework of the New START treaty with the United States, President Vladimir Putin said.

"All our actions in the sphere of strategic defense are in full compliance with Russia's international commitments, including in the framework of the treaty with the United States on strategic weapons," Putin said in an interview with Swiss media posted on the Kremlin's website.

In June, Putin stated Russia will reinforce its nuclear potential in 2015 by adding more than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) capable of penetrating the most technically-advanced missile defense systems.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed their concerns about Russia’s plans.

Under the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), Russia and the United States agreed to limit the number of ballistic missiles and heavy bombers equipped with nuclear warheads to 700 and nuclear warheads to 1,550 by February 2018.