In October, 2014, in a speech at the Valdai forum in Sochi, Vladimir Putin half-jokingly reminded his audience about Russia’s nuclear strength. “Yes, Soviet Union was named Upper Volta with nukes”, he said. “Maybe, but nukes — there were plenty.”
Two years after, the Kremlin is sending a similar message, but in a less joking form. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced a bill to the State Duma that proposed suspending a plutonium disposal agreement with the US.
