No One Would Even Think of Starting Large-Scale Conflict With Russia – Putin

SELIGER (Tver Region), August 29 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that no one would even think of initiating a large-scale conflict with Russia today.

“I don’t think it would come to anyone’s mind today of starting a large-scale conflict with Russia,” Putin said.

Russia will not be drawn into large-scale conflicts but its partners need to understand that it is better not to provoke Russia, Putin underlined.

“Russia is far from getting involved into a large-scale conflict. We do not want it and aren’t going to do it,” Putin said.

“Of course, we were always ready to repel any act of aggression toward Russia. Our partners, regardless of the situation their countries are in or their foreign policy line, have to always realize that it’s better not to mess with Russia,” the president underlined.

Russia will continue building up its nuclear potential to ensure its security, according to Putin.

“I’ll remind you that Russia is one of the largest nuclear powers. These are not just words, this is reality and, moreover, we are strengthening our powers of nuclear restraint. We are boosting our armed forces, they are actually becoming more compact and more effective. They are really becoming more modern from the point of view of being equipped with modern systems of weaponry. We will continue increasing this potential, and we will do this,” Putin said.

"This is not to threaten anyone, but to feel secure, feel calm, it gives us the ability to realize those plans that we have in the economic and social spheres," the president added.

Russia is currently implementing an ambitious 20 trillion ruble ($640 billion) rearmament program planned to run until 2020.

The program is to see the share of modern weaponry in Russia’s armed forces reach 30 percent by 2015 and 70 percent by 2020.