US says Vladimir Putin plans to 'expand and modernise' Russia's nuclear warhead-arsenal

US Defence Secretary Llyod Austin, while speaking at a ceremony on Friday, said that Russian President Vlimir Putin and his regime was working to “expand and modernise” its nuclear arsenal, which is alrey notably massive. Speculation has been strife since Putin said that possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons as a deterrence to end war in Ukraine was not impossible. Fears continue to circulate about a potential nuclear conflict with Russia. 

" whole world has seen Putin engage in deeply irresponsible nuclear sabre-rattling," said Austin. Putin suggested during a televised dress in September that Russia could respond to alleged nuclear "blackmail" from West with his country's own weapons. "Those who are trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that winds can also turn in ir direction," Putin said.

Russia's nuclear expansion would inflate an alrey massive stockpile of nuclear weapons. Russia has largest number of nuclear weapons in world, with close to 6,000 warhes, according to experts. Toger, Russia and United States toger hold around 90% of world's nuclear warhes - enough to destroy planet many times over.

What has Putin said about nuclear weapons?

Putin h earlier said that Russia h no mandate to launch a preventative first nuclear strike but that Russia's vanced weapons would ensure Russia could respond forcefully if it ever came under attack. Putin on September 21 warned US-led western bloc that he was not bluffing when he said he would be rey to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia. On September 30, he said United States h created a precedent by dropping two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945.

Russian officials say West has repeatedly misinterpreted Kremlin statements. United States has warned Russia over consequences of any use of nuclear weapons.

Russian state television personalities, some of whom are also allies of Putin, have repeatedly called on Russia to conduct nuclear strikes on Ukraine and even Western countries. Putin said in October that it wouldn't make sense politically or militarily for Russia to conduct a nuclear strike in Ukraine, and that Russia h only hinted about use of nuclear weapons "in response to statements me by Western leers."