AP, Moscow :
With nuclear tensions at a high between Russia and the West, Vladimir Putin has said that he is willing to destroy the world – but only if Russia is threatened.
In a two-hour video documentary released in his native Russia, Putin said that he would give the order to launch if Russia was threatened with nuclear missiles.
He told the host of World Order 2018, ‘This is called reciprocal strike. If there is this decision to destroy Russia then we have a legal right to respond.’
He said, ‘This would be a global catastrophe for humanity but I, as a citizen of Russia and the head of the Russian state would like to ask you this – what do we need a world for if there is no Russia in it?’ The comments come after months of sabre-rattling by Russia and America. Russia also said it was ready to begin work on its notorious ‘Satan 2’ missile, which can carry 10 thermonuclear warheads, enough to devastate an entire country.
Details also leaked of a ‘Kanyon’ ‘doomsday torpedo’ which could swamp coastal areas in a radioactive tsunami up to 500 feet high.
In 2016, Vladimir Putin ordered nuclear war drill involving 40 million Russians and 200,000 specialist rescue units.
The Kremlin has ramped up measures designed for a nuclear war with the West – upgrading bomb shelters and dusting off Soviet-era civil defence plans.
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview released Friday that he “couldn’t care less” if fellow Russian citizens sought to meddle in the 2016 US presidential election, insisting such efforts could not be tied to the Kremlin. “Why have you decided the Russian authorities, myself included, gave anybody permission to do this?” Putin asked in the often-combative interview with NBC television.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is conducting a wide-ranging investigation to determine whether President Donald Trump’s campaign colluded with Moscow to help elect him.
Last month Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies for allegedly backing Trump’s campaign, maligning his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and engaging in other election interference.
“So what if they’re Russians?” Putin said of the allegations.
“There are 146 million Russians. So what?… I don’t care. I couldn’t care less… They do not represent the interests of the Russian state.”
Mueller issued a 37-page indictment against the Russians but Putin indicated he has seen no evidence thus far that the alleged meddling broke any US law.
“Are we the ones who imposed sanctions on the United States? The US imposed sanctions on us,” he said.
“We in Russia cannot prosecute anyone as long as they have not violated Russian law… At least send us a piece of paper… Give us a document. Give us an official request. And we’ll take a look at it.”
With nuclear tensions at a high between Russia and the West, Vladimir Putin has said that he is willing to destroy the world – but only if Russia is threatened.
In a two-hour video documentary released in his native Russia, Putin said that he would give the order to launch if Russia was threatened with nuclear missiles.
He told the host of World Order 2018, ‘This is called reciprocal strike. If there is this decision to destroy Russia then we have a legal right to respond.’
He said, ‘This would be a global catastrophe for humanity but I, as a citizen of Russia and the head of the Russian state would like to ask you this – what do we need a world for if there is no Russia in it?’ The comments come after months of sabre-rattling by Russia and America. Russia also said it was ready to begin work on its notorious ‘Satan 2’ missile, which can carry 10 thermonuclear warheads, enough to devastate an entire country.
Details also leaked of a ‘Kanyon’ ‘doomsday torpedo’ which could swamp coastal areas in a radioactive tsunami up to 500 feet high.
In 2016, Vladimir Putin ordered nuclear war drill involving 40 million Russians and 200,000 specialist rescue units.
The Kremlin has ramped up measures designed for a nuclear war with the West – upgrading bomb shelters and dusting off Soviet-era civil defence plans.
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview released Friday that he “couldn’t care less” if fellow Russian citizens sought to meddle in the 2016 US presidential election, insisting such efforts could not be tied to the Kremlin. “Why have you decided the Russian authorities, myself included, gave anybody permission to do this?” Putin asked in the often-combative interview with NBC television.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is conducting a wide-ranging investigation to determine whether President Donald Trump’s campaign colluded with Moscow to help elect him.
Last month Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies for allegedly backing Trump’s campaign, maligning his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and engaging in other election interference.
“So what if they’re Russians?” Putin said of the allegations.
“There are 146 million Russians. So what?… I don’t care. I couldn’t care less… They do not represent the interests of the Russian state.”
Mueller issued a 37-page indictment against the Russians but Putin indicated he has seen no evidence thus far that the alleged meddling broke any US law.
“Are we the ones who imposed sanctions on the United States? The US imposed sanctions on us,” he said.
“We in Russia cannot prosecute anyone as long as they have not violated Russian law… At least send us a piece of paper… Give us a document. Give us an official request. And we’ll take a look at it.”
