Putin unveils missiles, vows to 'halve poverty rate'

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has unveiled an enhanced nuclear arsenal that he says could strike almost any point in the world and evade US-built missile defense.

Among new weapons that he said were either in development or ready was a new intercontinental ballistic missile "with a practically unlimited range" able to attack via the North and South Poles and bypass any missile shield.

Putin was addressing Russia's political elite in Moscow on Thursday ahead of an election on March 18 that polls indicate he should win easily.

He said a nuclear attack on any of Moscow's allies would be regarded as an attack on Russia itself and draw an immediate response.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly at the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall in Moscow, March 1, 2018. /VCG Photo

Putin also spoke of a small nuclear-powered engine that could be fitted to what he said were low-flying, highly maneuverable cruise missiles, giving them a practically unlimited range.

The new engine meant Russia was able to make a new type of weapon – nuclear missiles powered by nuclear rather than conventional fuel.

"Nothing like it in the world exists," Putin told the audience. "At some point, it will probably appear (elsewhere), but by that time our guys will have devised something else."

Other new superweapons he listed included underwater nuclear drones, a supersonic weapon, and a laser weapon.

January 13, 2018: S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems of the Russian Southern Military District's missile regiment on combat duty in Crimea. /VCG Photo

Pentagon 'not surprised'

Putin's remarks were greeted with skepticism in Washington, where officials cast doubt on whether Russia has added any new capabilities to its nuclear arsenal beyond those already known to the US military and intelligence agencies.

The Pentagon, which recently announced a nuclear policy revamp based partly on the bellicose posture from Moscow, said it was not surprised by Putin's presentation.

"We've been watching Russia for a long time. We're not surprised," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said.

"These weapons that are discussed have been in development a very long time," she told a news briefing, without addressing any of Putin's specific claims of new capabilities.

The video screen shows the Kinzhal shipborne surface-to-air missile system as Russia's President Vladimir Putin delivers an annual address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, at Moscow's Manezh Central Exhibition Hall, March 1, 2018. /VCG Photo

John Rood, US undersecretary of defense for policy, declined to comment on US intelligence on Russian capabilities.

But, addressing a forum in Washington, Rood generally played down Putin's presentation, saying: "I think it's broadly consistent with things that have been stated before (by) Russian officials."

Putin vows to 'halve poverty rate'

Earlier in the speech, Putin ordered officials to halve the number of Russians living in poverty by sharply boosting social and infrastructure spending in an obvious pre-election pitch to voters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly at the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall in Moscow, March 1, 2018. /VCG Photo

Putin, addressing Russian lawmakers, said that as many as 20 million Russians were living in poverty and that the government had to ensure that real incomes grew. He called the poverty rate "unacceptable."

"[We should] at least halve the poverty rate in the next six years," he said.

(Top photo: A Russian Yars RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile system rides through Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, May 9, 2017. /VCG Photo)

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Source(s): Reuters