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Russia won’t be drawn into arms race, senate speaker says

The speaker has commented on the news that the United States would boost its military spending

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Russia won’t be drawn into the arms race but will take sufficient measures to strengthen its own security, Speaker of the upper house of Russia’s parliament Valentina Matviyenko said on Wednesday.

The speaker thus commented on the news that the United States would boost its military spending.

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"We’ll watch the developments closely but we won’t be drawn into the arms race and at the same time we’ll take sufficient measures to strengthen our national security," she said.

The speaker stressed that the goal of strengthening national security was one of the state’s main tasks.

The Russian Senate speaker also said it was unclear yet, on which defense budget items the United States wanted to spend additional funds.

"We need to see and then make conclusions," she said.

The speaker said at the same time she was confident that the efforts of countries should be aimed at disarmament, adding that any increase in military spending might lead to a new arms race.

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