Russia needs Arctic presence to guard against U.S. threat - Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with academics at the Moscow State University December 3, 2013. REUTERS/Mikhail Metzel/RIA Novosti/Kremlin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday Russia had vital defence and economic interests in the Arctic, citing a potential U.S. military threat from submarine-based missiles there.

Russia detained 30 Greenpeace activists protesting against Arctic drilling at Russian Prirazlomnaya offshore platform in September and they now face charges carrying seven-year jail sentences, underlining Moscow's strong interest in the Arctic.