国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Putin flexes muscle in annual address ahead of election_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Putin flexes muscle in annual address ahead of election

According to Putin, Russia has also developed strategic weapons that do not use ballistic flight trajectories, making missile shields "useless and senseless".

Russia has developed underwater unmanned weapons capable of moving at very big depths between continents with a speed much higher than that of modern submarines, torpedoes and surface vessels, Putin said.

In addition, Russia has deployed high-precision hypersonic missiles that are capable of penetrating "existing and prospective" defense systems, according to the president.

"Kinzhal" (Dagger) missiles can fly at a speed 10 times that of sound and maneuver during the whole flight. They can deliver nuclear or conventional warheads to a target at a distance of more than 2,000 km.

"Avangard" (Vanguard) missiles can fly at a speed 20 times that of sound and can reach intercontinental distances.

In his speech, Putin vowed immediate retaliation if Russia or its allies is hit with a nuclear attack.

IMPROVING LIVING STANDARDS

"Well-being of people and comfortable incomes for Russian families are key development factors. This is where we need to make a decisive breakthrough," Putin told lawmakers from the Federation Council and the State Duma.

Putin said some 20 million Russians, or about 14 percent of the population, are living below the poverty line, which is "unacceptably high."

Putin attributed the difficulties to the economic crisis and promised to create jobs with decent incomes to "at least halve the poverty level in six years."