Russia President: We Will Continue Nuclear Weapon Development

Russian President Medvedev (r.), seen here in earlier discussions with US President Obama (r.), says development of nuclear offensive weapons will continue, even after a new START arms reduction deal is signed with the US. Photo by BGNES

President Dmitry Medvedev has stated on Russian national television that the country will continue to develop its own strategic offensive nuclear weapons even after signing an arms reduction agreement with the United States.

"Even after we prepare and sign this treaty, we will still continue to develop our strategic offensive forces because without them we cannot defend our country," Medvedev said on Thursday.

"We will continue developing new systems, including delivery vehicles. That is normal. The rest of the world is doing it," the president continued.

Moscow and Washington have been in intensive talks over the past few months in a bid to agree a replacement for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1), that expired on December 5, 2009.

Medvedev said the two countries have "agreed upon virtually everything" in the new draft treaty.

Meanwhile, the Russian head of state said his country has a strong and effective enough nuclear deterrence to secure its national interests.

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