Russian ally claims country has weapons capable of destroying US in defense.

Nikolai Patrushev, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, has warned that Russia has the weapons to destroy any enemy, including the United States, if its own existence is threatened, accusing Washington of underestimating Moscow's nuclear might. Patrushev said that Russia has modern unique weapons capable of destroying any adversary, including the United States, in the event of a threat to its existence. Russia has accused the West, without presenting public evidence, of making nuclear threats against it, and has spoken of its readiness to use nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances if the very existence of the Russian state is imperilled.