3 Proofs Russia Will Retaliate Against Planned Economic Sanctions, Military Aid to Ukraine by U.S.

As U.S. President Barack Obama mulls over the fresh round of economic sanctions against Russia and the military aid to Ukraine that the American Congress has recently approved, Russia is showing signs that it is ready to meet pressure with force.

Reports are saying that Moscow deemed Washington's latest action as tantamount to the West applying pressure to Russia - a move that is both unnecessary and futile, the Kremlin added.

And to underscore that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to shoot back when his country's national interest and security come under threat, as recent reports suggested, the three signs below point to Putin's resolve:

Russia is on weapons shopping binge

In recent months, reports have emerged that Russia is building up its military and is in fact gained tactical edge over the United States in nuclear war capabilities. Some analysts fear that if war between the U.S and Russia breaks out, the latter will easily win.

It appears now that even with its perceived advantage in the event of a nuclear showdown, Moscow is hardly complacent. The country continues on with its stock pile of arms and according to CNN Money, it is set to spend around $700 billion for military hardware upgrades that likely will be completed by 2025.

Russia is now the third biggest defence spender in the world, said the same report, adding that "airfields, hundreds of fighter jets and a new fleet of battle tanks are in the works."

CNN mentioned too that by 2020, the Russian navy will see the delivery of new vessels and submarines that will enhance the country's capability of launching long-range missiles with nuclear warheads.

The same report noted that Russia is increasing its defence budget by at least 20 per cent while most nations, the U.S., including are shaving off theirs.

Russia declares it can station nuclear weapons in Crimea

March this year, Moscow annexed Crimea and in the following months dismissed the international uproar over its actions by saying that it has historical and territorial bases in claiming the region.

This week, the Kremlin reiterated the same right and padded it further by declaring that placing nuclear weapons in Crimea is provided for and "in accordance with international law," The Los Angeles Times reported.

While Russia is not confirming that Crimea is already nuclear weapons-ready, the statement issued by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is viewed as Moscow's readiness to shoot it out with the U.S. and its NATO allies when pushed against the wall.

Russia intensifies economic and political pressure on Ukraine

While Moscow complains that further pressures coming from the West and directed to Russia will amount to nothing, it does the same without hesitation with regards to Ukraine.

In a report by The Wall Street Journal, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev reminded Kiev that it is courting financial difficulties on plans to strengthen ties with the European Union. A closer relationship by Ukraine with the EU will lead to higher tariffs for Ukrainian goods going to Russia, Medvedev warned.

And Kiev should also expect that Russia's financial aids for Ukraine will be cut off altogether if the Ukrainian government pursues its plans of closer trade and dealings with European states, the Russian prime minister stressed.

Meanwhile, Reuters is saying in a report that Obama is yet to decide whether he would sign into law the Ukraine Freedom Support Act submitted to him by the U.S. Congress.