US ‘Golden Dome’: Russia says its strategic systems can penetrate any air defence

U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as he makes an announcement regarding the Golden Dome missile defense shield with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (not pictured) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov on Thursday said that there is no reason to panic over the US’ plans for the Golden Dome missile defense shield, but they raise serious alarm and highlight Russia’s need to ensure its security under any conditions.

As reported by news agency TASS, when asked to comment on the level of threat of the US’ plans on the Golden Dome defensive system, the senior Russian minister said, "Undoubtedly, this must be taken very seriously, including taking into account the US’ completely different technological and financial capabilities compared to the Reagan era. But, having said this, I would like to emphasize that there are no grounds for alarm, there are grounds for serious concern, and the task of ensuring our security under any conditions becomes even more pressing." "Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that our strategic systems are equipped so that we can reliably break through any air defense systems, including layered ones."

Ryabkov also said that with the Golden Dome defensive shield, the air defense system receives space-located interceptors, which is "extremely destabilizing." "Certainly, we reject such plans. Under the conditions when a lot has been dismantled by the US in the sphere of arms control, now we are observing an infringement upon the conceptual basics of strategic stability via moves and activities that are basically founded on the belief in its own invincibility via some technological achievements. But all of this has been refuted by history and experience, and I am confident that it will be refuted again," the Ryabkov concluded.

Earlier, the Kremlin indicated on Wednesday that President Donald Trump's "Golden Dome" missile shield plans could force the resumption in the foreseeable future of contacts between Moscow and Washington about nuclear arms control.

Asked about Trump's announcement that he had selected a design for the $175-billion Golden Dome missile defense shield, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was a sovereign matter for the United States.

The so-called "Golden Dome", inspired by Israel's land-based Iron Dome defense shield, is an ambitious project aimed at blocking threats from China and Russia, which the United States views as its two biggest geopolitical competitors.

Peskov, asked if Russia saw the project as a threat to Russia's nuclear parity with the United States, said that there was no detail about the U.S. project and many nuances remained.

"In the foreseeable future, the very course of events requires the resumption of contacts on issues of strategic stability," Peskov said.

*With Agency Inputs