Russia's strategic missile forces commander says his country's missiles will be able to breach the antimissile defense shield being built in Europe by the United States.
Colonel-General Sergei Karakayev told reporters in Moscow on December 16 that the U.S. "antimissile defense system being deployed today is not able to resist a massive salvo from a unit of [Russia's] strategic missile forces."
Karakayev's statement came a day before Russia's Day of Strategic Missile Forces, which is marked every year on December 17.
One year ago, Karakayev said that Russia will have a new liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Sarmat, in its arsenal by 2020.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized in recent weeks that Moscow will continue to put a high-priority on developing its nuclear forces.
Russia has been cool toward U.S. calls for further cuts in nuclear weapons following the landmark New START treaty, which was signed in 2010.
