Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia's nuclear forces must be ready for an adequate response to any aggressor and warned Moscow could not remain indifferent to what he termed NATO's "muscle-flexing."
Putin, speaking to top generals less than two weeks before December 2 parliamentary elections, said the NATO military alliance had built up its forces close to Russia's borders.
"We cannot allow ourselves to remain indifferent to the obvious 'muscle-flexing'," Putin said, RIA news agency reported.
He said Russia's strategic nuclear forces - its long-range missiles - should be ready to deliver a "swift and adequate response" to any aggressor.