GORKI (Sputnik) — Influence on the international arena must be gained through economic achievements, but this is no reason to neglect Russia's defense capabilities, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Friday.
"We need to build a strong country that is perceived in the right way on the international arena, that is followed, believed in, has influence. And this influence must be based on our economic and intellectual achievements and not just our defense capabilities," Medvedev said.
"They [Russian defense capabilities] are not weak and there is no reason to weaken them in this regard," he added.
