US says Russia nuclear weapons boast irresponsible

Video grab showing Russia鈥檚 new Sarmat intercontinental missile at an undisclosed location which Moscow claims that it cannot be intercepted, Mar 1, 2018 (Russian Television via AP)

WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday said Russia acted irresponsibly by boasting of new nuclear weapons that President Vladimir Putin says are impervious to US defenses.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says it was 鈥渦nfortunate鈥� to watch a video animation depicting 鈥渁 nuclear attack on the United States鈥� that accompanied Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 state-of-the-nation speech Thursday. She called the video 鈥渃heesy鈥� and said that 鈥渨e don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 responsible.鈥�
Nauert said the animation confirms that Russia has been creating destabilizing weapons systems for more than a decade in 鈥渄irect violation鈥� of its treaty obligations. She said the US has long known that but that Russia had previously denied it.
The Pentagon downplayed Putin鈥檚 announcement of new nuclear weapons, saying Moscow鈥檚 weaponry was long under development and had already been factored into US assessments.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not surprised by the statements and the American people should rest assured that we are fully prepared,鈥� said Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White, after Putin, speaking ahead of a March 18 election, showcased missiles that he said could hit almost any point in the world.