Russian President Vladimir Putin told a press conference for Russian and foreign journalists today that Russia’s response to the US setting up ballistic defense system in Europe would be unpredicted and highly effective. He explained that Russian experts doubted the fact that the US National Missile Defense System (NMDS) being deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic was aimed at combating threats from Iran and North Korea. According to the Russian leader those countries have only medium-range ballistic missiles. Hence, Putin assured journalists that Russia was planning to construct new-generation missiles, which would not be detected by NMDS.
The president added that the US plans to deploy the NMDS in Eastern Europe were not connected with Russia’s increasing military power. Putin also believes that US sanctions against Russian defense companies to be unfair in terms of competition.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding an annual news conference in the Kremlin to comment on Russia’s home and foreign policy.In opening remarks, Putin said wages increased 13.3 percent last year, while pensions were raised by 5.4 percent. This is not too much compared with some other countries, but pension age is lower in Russia, he noted. 
