Russian Deputy Prime Minister stressed that Moscow reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if it is attacked by the United States.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister stressed that Moscow reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if it is attacked by the United States.

Russia was “preparing a response” to plans by the United States to develop a new fast-strike weapons platform capable of striking targets anywhere in the world in as little as an hour, Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted Dmitry Rogozin as saying on Wednesday.

“They may experiment with conventional weapons on strategic delivery platforms, but they must bear in mind, that if we are attacked, in certain circumstances we will of course respond with nuclear weapons,” Rogozin told Russia's State Duma, the lower house, without naming the US.

The official noted that the so-called Prompt Global Strike program was “the most important new strategy being developed by the United States today.”
Russia amended its military doctrine years ago to allow for the possibility of using nuclear weapons in retaliation to a non-nuclear attack.

Rogozin said the principle is enshrined in Russia’s military doctrine and any aggressor or group of aggressors should be aware of that.

Rogozin’s comment came a day after President Vladimir Putin said that 40 new Yars (SS-29) Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) would be added to Russia’s nuclear arsenal in 2014.