Moscow, Sept 22 (Prensa Latina) Russia is prepared to respond to any threat, existing or emerging, said President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with the permanent members of the country's Security Council. At the same time, the president added that Moscow is not seeking to unleash an arms race, and stressed that to avoid one and ensure an acceptable level of predictability and containment, Russia considers "attempts to maintain the current status quo achieved through the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START III) justified."