Putin: Army guarantor of stability

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called Russia's army a guarantor of national stability, promising to boost arms production.

"A modern, efficient army and navy are a guarantee of the country's security and sovereignty, a guarantee of its stable development and its future," Putin said in a video address on the occasion of the annual Defender of the Fatherland Day holiday in Russia.

Putin also committed to Russia strengthening its nuclear triad and a military force structure capable of launching three types of nuclear weapons.

Russia's Foreign Ministry has said the country will still observe limits imposed by the New START nuclear weapons treaty. Earlier Russia said it was suspending its participation in the treaty.

European Union countries failed to reach an agreement on Wednesday on new sanctions against Russia, and planned more talks, Reuters quoted diplomats as saying.

More talks among representatives of EU members were due on Thursday afternoon, said the sources.

Talks between Sweden, Finland and Turkiye would resume in mid-March, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told local media on Wednesday night.

Turkiye has postponed a trilateral meeting with Sweden and Finland on their NATO bids slated for February.