Nuclear capability crucial to Russia - defense minister

MOSCOW, January 11 (RIA Novosti) - Russia does not intend to give up its nuclear capability, which still has a key role in defending its national interests, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Wednesday in an article published by the Wall Street Journal.

"We have always honored our commitments and will do so in the future, including those made in line with treaties and agreements with the U.S. on reductions and limitations of strategic offensive weapons, which stipulate a reduction of our nuclear capability to 1,700-2,200 warheads," Sergei Ivanov said in the article.

"At the same time, Russia does not intend to give up its nuclear capability, as it is still a key deterrent and a crucial instrument in protecting its national interests and achieving certain political goals."

Russia always sought to avoid conflict through non-military means, Ivanov said. But he added that more challenges were emerging to Russia's national security, and that the potential for instability in some countries of the former Soviet Union, together with the attempts of some countries and organizations to obtain weapons of mass destruction, could pose further threats in the future.

Russia has to "maintain and develop a strategic deterrent capability minimally sufficient for the guaranteed repulsion of contemporary and future military threats," Ivanov said.

Ivanov listed a series of new missiles that Russia has recently deployed or that it plans to deploy in the near future, but added, "Needless to say, these are not aimed at any particular target."

On the subject of a modern fighting force for the country, Ivanov said the best option was "a mobile force in which the air, and probably space component will be a decisive factor in success."

"In short, Russia needs a military ready to deal with an armed conflict of any conceivable kind and prevent any aggression or power play against us and our allies," he said.