Russia Preparing for War Against U.S.

Russia announced an overhaul of its strategic nuclear forces and army yesterday, in the clearest sign yet that Moscow may be preparing for a possible full-scale military confrontation with the US and Nato.

Dmitry Medvedev, the president, said Russia would build a space defence system and a fleet of nuclear submarines by 2020. He said Russia needed a "guaranteed nuclear deterrent system" in place by 2020.

Pavel Felgenhauer, a Moscow-based defence analyst, told the Guardian. "This is the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union that the Russian military is actually preparing for an all-out nuclear war with America...Russia wants to divide the world into spheres of influence. If not, we will prepare for nuclear war."