No interest in new arms race

The Kremlin yesterday said Russia will not be part of a new arms race as the United States and Germany voiced concern over Vladimir Putin's boasts of new "invincible" weapons.

Putin stunned the West -- and many in Russia -- on Thursday by using his state of the nation address to unveil a new arsenal of hypersonic weapons and submarines less than three weeks before an election is expected to extend his rule until 2024.

The revelations came with ties between Russia and the West at post-Cold War lows over the Syria and Ukraine conflicts, and accusations that Moscow interfered in the US presidential election in 2016.

US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel shared concern in a phone conversation over Putin's claims, Berlin said yesterday.

Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said his government was concerned about "the entire security policy of Russia".

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected accusations Russia was violating any arms control agreements.

"We categorically reject any accusations that Russia is violating any provisions and articles of international law on disarmament and arms control," Peskov said.

"Russia is not going to attack anyone, and these weapons do not present a danger to anyone who is not hatching plans to attack our country. Russia is not going to be pulled into any arms race.”

Peskov denied suggestions that one of the videos allegedly used a map of the US to simulate an attack on Florida.

Washington accused Moscow of breaching Cold War-era arms treaties.

Putin presented Russia's military efforts as a response to actions by the United States, which last month unveiled plans to revamp its own nuclear arsenal and develop new low-yield atomic weapons.

"No one really wanted to talk to us basically. No one listened to us then. Listen to us now," Putin said Thursday, prompting a standing ovation from the audience of top officials, lawmakers and celebrities.

Analysts said Putin was effectively challenging Washington to a new arms race.

"This is a formal declaration of a new Cold War," independent security analyst Alexander Golts told AFP.

Underscoring the tension, Russia called off strategic talks with the US set for this month after a Washington delegation snubbed a meeting on cybersecurity.

In his speech, Putin showed tests of a new missile system he said could fly at 20 times the speed of sound and manuever up and down, and is not owned by any other country. Russia has also developed unmanned underwater devices that move much faster than submarines and torpedoes and can carry nuclear warheads, Putin said, adding: "It's just fantastic!"