Vladimir Putin said he will develop missiles to penetrate the NATO shield

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The Russian president used a meeting in Sochi dedicated to military development to hit out at America "and its allies" and insisted he would respond by developing weapons that would "penetrate any missile defence shield".

Mr Putin said: "References to Iran and North Korea nuclear threats are just a cover for the true purpose (of NATO missile defence).

"That is to neutralise the potential of other nuclear states not the US or its allies - primarily Russia."

After declaring Moscow would take the "necessary measures to respond by strengthening its own missile defence", the president added: "And at the first stage we are also going to develop strike weapons that can penetrate any missile defence shield."