From The Times
November 21, 2007
*
President Putin rattles nuclear sabre at Nato*

Tony Halpin in Moscow

President Putin accused Nato yesterday of threatening Russia’s security
and ordered the military to place the country’s strategic nuclear
arsenal on a higher state of alert.

“In violation of previous agreements, certain member countries of the
Nato alliance are increasing their resources next to our borders,” Mr
Putin told generals in a meeting broadcast on state television. “Russia
cannot remain indifferent to this obvious muscle-flexing.”

Mr Putin, whose rhetoric has become more strident as relations with the
West have deteriorated, went on: “One of the most important tasks
remains raising the combat readiness of the strategic nuclear forces.
They should be ready to deliver a quick and adequate reply to any
aggressor.”

He issued his stark message as Russia confirmed that it would pull out
of a landmark arms limitation treaty on December 12. The Conventional
Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty was fundamental to ending the Cold War.

Mr Putin hit out at Nato less than two weeks before Russians vote in
parliamentary elections. While there is a clear element of
sabre-rattling for domestic purposes, the Kremlin has also been alarmed
by what it regards as a Nato plot to contain Russia.

Mr Putin is determined to increase pressure on Nato in an attempt to
divide European members over a United States plan to place a missile
defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. He has already
threatened to station nuclear missiles in the Russian exclave of
Kaliningrad, which is surrounded by EU states, if Nato ignores Moscow’s
objections.

Poland’s new Government has stated that it is willing to review the US
proposal to place interceptor missiles on its territory. Washington says
that the shield is aimed at rogue states such as Iran, but Russia is
adamant that its own security is at risk.

The Kremlin is also angry at the prospect of Nato expanding to take in
former Soviet satellites such as Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan,
bringing the military alliance along most of Russia’s western border.

The 1990 CFE treaty imposed limits on the deployment of tanks and other
forces in Europe. Nato refused to ratify an updated treaty in 1999 until
Russia pulled troops out of the former Soviet republics of Georgia and
Moldova.

Moscow has rejected any link between the two issues. Mr Putin said that
Russia had honoured the CFE treaty while Nato members had continued to
build up their military capabilities.

Mr Putin said that Russia would return to the CFE treaty only after Nato
countries had ratified it. He urged the generals to seek “new ways to
mitigate threats in the early stages”.