Russia to Do Everything Needed to Preserve Global Strategic Balance of Power

Russia will oppose attempts to disrupt the strategic balance around the world, such as NATO’s global anti-ballistic missile defense system, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

“Our goal is to effectively neutralize any military threats to Russia’s security, including those of the [NATO] strategic anti-ballistic missile defense system, the prompt global strike concept and information warfare,” Putin told the Russian military, according to RT.

“We will continue to do everything needed to preserve the strategic balance of power,” he said, adding that the balance was what had prevented a major military conflict between the opposing camps during the Cold War.

 Putin was speaking to Russian generals and defense industry captains in Sochi on Friday, concluding a series of defense-related meetings. He said Russia will continue to develop advanced military technology to protect itself.

“Leading world powers are currently using the most advanced scientific knowledge for weapons development. It includes laser technologies, hyper sound technologies, and robotics. Russia is conducting such research too,” the president said.

“As we create advanced weapons systems we strictly follow the international obligations that Russia has taken upon itself. But some other nations, as we all know, cancel previous agreements. As was the case with anti-ballistic missile defense,” Putin added, referring to the withdrawal from the ABM Treaty in 2002 by the administration of then US President George W Bush.

Moscow accuses the US and its NATO partners of compromising Russian national security by developing means to counter Russia’s nuclear deterrence, expanding the alliance towards Russian borders and developing advanced conventional strike technology that may be used for a large attack.

Russian Aviation in Syria on Missions Only in Idlib and Homs- Lavrov

Meantime in Lima, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the Russian aviation in Syria is currently engaged only in missions in the provinces of Idlib and Homs to prevent terrorists of the so-called “Islamic State” group from crossing into Syria from Iraq.

“Our aviation and the aviation of Syria work only in the provinces of Idlib and Homs in order to prevent the IS from crossing into Syria from Mosul,” he said.

Earlier this week, Western media and officials have repeatedly accused Russia of striking civilian targets in the Syrian province of Aleppo.

Russia’s Defense Ministry has called the reports a “common lie.” On Wednesday, ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said Russian aviation have not been delivering any strikes on Aleppo for 29 days already.

H.M