Putin: Russia will develop, not use, nuclear weapons

In this Friday, Nov. 20, 2015 file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a video conference with the top military brass on a Russian air campaign in Syria, in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia. Putin was in Tehran on Monday for talks with Iranian leaders expected to focus on the Syrian crisis and an international peace plan intended to end the conflict. AP FILE PHOTO

MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin says Russia will continue to develop nuclear weapons but doesn’t intend to use them.

The Russian leader made the comment in a documentary called “World Order” that was aired on state television Sunday night.

“Russia as a leading nuclear country will be improving this weapon as a containment factor; the nuclear triad is the basis of our nuclear security polices,” he said, referring to the three main delivery systems for nuclear warheads — bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ICBMs.

“We have never brandished or will brandish this nuclear club, but our military doctrine allocates it a place and role,” he said, according to excerpts reported by the state news agency Tass.

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