Putin: Nuclear Confrontation Would Destroy Civilization

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is doing well, but added that there is room for improvement, during the country's 14th annual news conference Thursday. "The national production, in general, is increasing, for example, the textile industry has increased its production by 9%, is it enough? It is not enough."

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"Yes, the percentage is not very high, but we must bear in mind that it coincides with the global economic crisis of 2008," Putin acknowledged before adding that, little by little, the country is successfully combating that specific challenge, along with the effects of the fall in oil prices in 2014. 

"We need to enter a new league of world economies," Putin announced.

"The Central Bank is taking requests to reduce inflation and prices [of the products]," Putin stated regarding plans related to the future of Russia's economic advancements. The president added that the pending measures will improve the country's growth plans and increase its budget for the coming months.

Nuclear confrontation

Putin also remarked, at the conference, that Russia intends only to guarantee its security in a context in which the United States has left the nuclear agreement, which has, in the past, maintained a nuclear balance between the two powers.

"A nuclear confrontation can lead to the destruction of civilization. The danger of such a scenario can lead to the destruction of civilization and even of the planet," Putin stated, offering reassurance to Russians who fear a nuclear confrontation with the United States.

Conflict and peace with Japan

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed Moscow's relationship with Japan implying that the Asian nation retaining close ties with the United States is unfortunate. 

"On the Japanese island of Okinawa, there has been a U.S. base for some time," Putin expressed. The president then questioned the existence of the station and commented that  Russia "does not understand" the level of sovereignty that Japan enjoys when deciding whether or not to host a United States army base.

The military relationship between the two nations, among other global security vulnerabilities, has pushed Moscow to upgrade the country's weaponry, according to comments made at the presser by Putin, who warned that the governor of the island of Okinawa does not want a U.S. base on the island but "cannot do anything" change that reality.

"Everyone is against... but nobody can do anything," Putin concluded.

In September, the Russian president proposed to Japan a peace agreement "without conditions."