Putin says, Russia needs to be strong against 'fortress' U.S.

Russia faces a "fortress" United States and must embrace high technology to keep up in a growing arms race, as well as in fierce economic competition, President
Vladimir Putin said in a state of the nation speech. Addressing both houses of parliament and other top officials in the nationally televised, hour-long speech on Wednesday, Putin said Russia must remain on guard in a post-Cold War arms race. "It is premature to speak of the end of the arms race," Putin said the annual address. "It is in reality rising to a new technological level," the Russian leader said. Putin said that the United States spent 25 times more than Russia on its defence budget. "In the defence sphere, this is called 'their house is their fortress.' Well done! But it means that we must build our house strongly, reliably, because we see what's going on in the world.