Putin vows 'arms race' response

President Putin told the State Council he was not happy with Nato Russia's President Vladimir Putin says the world is engaged in a new arms race and Nato is failing to accommodate Russia's concerns. In a nationally-televised speech, he condemned Nato's expansion and the US plan to include Poland and the Czech Republic in a missile defence shield. "It is already clear that a new phase in the arms race is unfolding in the world," Mr Putin said. "It is not our fault, because we did not start it," he said. Russia has, and always will have, responses to these new challenges Vladimir Putin Russian President Mr Putin was speaking less than a month before Russians elect his successor. In his speech, to the State Council - Russia's top politicians, officials and generals - he said other countries were spending far more than Russia on new weapons. But Russia would always respond to the challenges of a new arms race by developing more hi-tech weaponry, he said. Military muscle Referring to Nato's activities in Central and Eastern Europe, Mr Putin said "there are many discussions on these, but... we have still not seen any real steps towards finding a compromise". "In effect, we are forced to retaliate, to take corresponding decisions. Russia has, and always will have, responses to these new challenges," he said. Russia has been using oil revenues to bolster its military In December, Russia said it was planning naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It has also resumed long-range patrols by its bomber aircraft. The practice was suspended after the collapse of the Soviet Union and was revived last August, as part of a more assertive foreign policy pursued by President Putin. Higher oil prices have enabled Russia to re-invest in its armed forces, but its military capabilities remain far below what they were during the Soviet era. The BBC's World Affairs correspondent Nick Childs says Mr Putin's language will add to growing worries in the West about Russia's new assertiveness. Our correspondent says there was a time when Moscow appeared weakened, short of money, preoccupied with domestic problems, and relatively passive in terms of foreign policy. But he says it is clear that Mr Putin is sending a none-too-subtle message that Russia is back on the international stage.

푸틴 대통령, 각 국 군사력 확대경쟁 비난 (E)
02/08/2008

블라디미르 푸틴 러시아 대통령이 미국과 나토가 러시아 국경지역을 향한 군사력을 확대하고 있다면서, 러시아는 이런 '새로운 위협'에 무기 현대화로 대응할 것이라고 말했습니다.

푸틴 대통령은 8일 크레믈린에서 행한 연설을 통해 "전 세계에서 새로운 군사력 경쟁이 벌어지고 있는 것은 자명하다"면서 "하지만 러시아는 여기에 동참하지 않을 것"이라고 말했습니다.

이 날 연설에서 러시아를 위한 향후 12년간의 비전과 함께 다양한 주제들이 다뤄졌습니다.

푸틴 대통령은 지난 임기 동안 자신의 업적으로 급여 인상과 해외로 부터의 투자 확대, 체첸 반군 진압 등을 언급했습니다.

*****

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the U.S. and NATO for military expansion toward Russia's borders and said his nation would respond to "new threats" by modernizing its weapons systems.

Speaking today (today) at the Kremlin, Mr. Putin said it is "clear that a new arms race is being unleashed in the world." But he went on to say that Russia would not be drawn into it.

Mr. Putin also touched on a wide range of other topics during his speech summarizing his vision for Russia for the next 12 years.

He spoke of what he thinks are among his main achievements since taking office, like rising salaries, increased foreign investment and crushing the Chechen rebellion (미국의 소리)