Vladimir Putin announces "stronger Russian army"

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin laid out his vision of Russia's military modernization in an article published in the pro-government daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Putin is running to reclaim presidency in the March 4 election. Vladimir Putin announces "stronger Russian army" In his article, Putin noted that the development potential of the military infrastructure of the former USSR has been exhausted, and that further investment and reliance on that infrastructure would be meaningless. The prime minister presented his plans to create a new, professional and highly trained army, and analyzed international relations, stressing that his country would under no circumstances give up on its potential for strategic deterrence - and that it would strengthen it further. According to Putin, EUR 575bn will be invested in order to modernize the armed forces and defense industry during this decade. "This is does not represent a militarization of the Russian budges," wrote Putin. "In fact, the money that we will set aside will pay the bill for the years when the army and the navy were chronically underfunded, while other countries increased their military strength." While he believes that the likelihood of a global war between nuclear powers was low, Putin noted new local and regional wars, and attempts to transfer them to Russia's borders. The principles of international law have been devalued and destroyed, wrote the Russian premier. "Under these circumstances, Russia cannot rely solely on diplomatic and economic methods in order to solve conflicts," he said. Putin is also in favor of rebuilding the Russian navy "in the full sense of the word", and "especially in the north and the Far East". Big powers have already started their activities related to the area of the Arctic, and that represents a challenge to Russia's interests in the region, according to him. Putin announced that the army should have "at least 70 percent new armaments by 2020", and added that it will have at its disposal "400 new inter-continental ballistic missiles, 20 submarines, 50 ships, 100 satellites, 600 jets, including 5th generation aircraft, 28 regiments with S-400 missile systems, 2,300 tanks and 17,000 modern vehicles". While the military should be professionalized, "men should be ready to defend the country", Putin warned. The prime minister, who is favorite to win next month's presidential elections, has chosen not to take part in public debates with other candidates. However, for six weeks now, he has been publishing articles each Monday detailing his stances on various subjects. Vladimir Putin (file) Tanjug

Vladimir Putin announces "stronger Russian army"

In his article, Putin noted that the development potential of the military infrastructure of the former USSR has been exhausted, and that further investment and reliance on that infrastructure would be meaningless.

The prime minister presented his plans to create a new, professional and highly trained army, and analyzed international relations, stressing that his country would under no circumstances give up on its potential for strategic deterrence - and that it would strengthen it further.

According to Putin, EUR 575bn will be invested in order to modernize the armed forces and defense industry during this decade.

"This is does not represent a militarization of the Russian budges," wrote Putin. "In fact, the money that we will set aside will pay the bill for the years when the army and the navy were chronically underfunded, while other countries increased their military strength."

While he believes that the likelihood of a global war between nuclear powers was low, Putin noted new local and regional wars, and attempts to transfer them to Russia's borders. The principles of international law have been devalued and destroyed, wrote the Russian premier.

"Under these circumstances, Russia cannot rely solely on diplomatic and economic methods in order to solve conflicts," he said.

Putin is also in favor of rebuilding the Russian navy "in the full sense of the word", and "especially in the north and the Far East". Big powers have already started their activities related to the area of the Arctic, and that represents a challenge to Russia's interests in the region, according to him.

Putin announced that the army should have "at least 70 percent new armaments by 2020", and added that it will have at its disposal "400 new inter-continental ballistic missiles, 20 submarines, 50 ships, 100 satellites, 600 jets, including 5th generation aircraft, 28 regiments with S-400 missile systems, 2,300 tanks and 17,000 modern vehicles".

While the military should be professionalized, "men should be ready to defend the country", Putin warned.

The prime minister, who is favorite to win next month's presidential elections, has chosen not to take part in public debates with other candidates. However, for six weeks now, he has been publishing articles each Monday detailing his stances on various subjects.