Putin warns US on non-ratification of START treaty

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in remarks to be aired later Wednesday has warned that Moscow would have to build up its nuclear forces if the US Senate does not ratify the new strategic arms reduction treaty START, DPA reported.

Putin was interviewed by the TV news network CNN, with the interview to be broadcast later Wednesday, but excerpts of which were provided to Russian media.

"We'll have to react somehow," Putin told CNN interviewer Larry King about the choices Moscow faced if the US failed to ratify the treaty which US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed last April in Prague.

As to the prospect of Russia having to respond by a buildup of its nuclear forces, Putin said: "That's not our choice. We don't want that to happen. But this is not a threat on our part."

Under the new START treat, each country's arsenal of deployed nuclear warheads would be reduced by about one-third. It sets a maximum of 1,550 warheads at most 700 launchers. Both sides could be able to resume on-site inspections to assure compliance.

Putin said it would take "a very dumb nature" for the US to ignore its own interests by failing to ratify the treaty.

His remarks come amid rising debate in the US amid Obama's efforts to get the Senate - where 67 votes in the 100-seat chamber are needed for approval - to ratify the new START accord. Under the US Constitution, the Senate's approval to foreign treaties is required.

Putin decline to commit himself in the CNN interview about whether he would seek re-election as president of Russia in 2012.

He also blasted the "arrogance" shown in comments by US diplomats in the WikiLeaks-released US cables which had compared him and Medvedev to the comic book characters Batman and Robin.

The comments were "aimed to slander one of us," Putin said.