Putin Reiterates Nuclear Weapons Claims in NBC Interview

Russian President Vladimir Putin claims his country has advanced nuclear weapons that can avoid defense systems.

During  an interview with NBC , Putin said, "Every single weapons system that I have discussed today easily surpasses and avoids a missile defense system." He told the outlet some are already available to troops and are "battle ready." Putin first  described the new weaponry  during his annual speech to lawmakers on Thursday.  During the nearly two-hour long speech, he showed video clips of the arsenal, which supposedly includes underwater drones, intercontinental missiles and a hypersonic system that "heads for its target like a meteorite."  And he warned that Russia won't be afraid to use those weapons if any of its allies come under nuclear attack.

Still, in his interview with NBC, Putin suggested this is not the start of a new Cold War.