Putin warned Western countries against sending troops to Ukraine, saying it risked provoking nuclear war given Russia’s large arsenal.
He accused the West of undermining Russia and not understanding the dangers, citing Macron’s idea of European NATO troops in Ukraine.
Putin reportedly said, “(Western nations) must realize that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory. All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilisation. Don’t they get that?!”
“Strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness,” he continued.
While visibly angry, he suggested Western leaders forget what real war means and compared them to past leaders who unsuccessfully invaded Russia.
Putin said Russian forces now had the initiative in Ukraine and more troops would be deployed along Western borders given Finland and Sweden joining NATO.
“But now the consequences will be far more tragic,” warned Putin.
He added, “They think it (war) is a cartoon.”
The Russian President explained, “Therefore, our task is to develop the defence-industrial complex in such a way as to increase the scientific, technological and industrial potential of the country.”
He claimed, “Recently there have been more and more unsubstantiated accusations against Russia, for example that we are allegedly going to deploy nuclear weapons in space. Such innuendo… is a ploy to draw us into negotiations on their terms, which are favorable only to the United States.”
Adding, “On the eve of the U.S. presidential election, they simply want to show their citizens and everyone else that they still rule the world.”
However, he dismissed suggestions Russia would attack Europe as “nonsense.”
Putin signaled openness to nuclear talks with the US but believed Washington’s interest was false claims to show it still rules the world ahead of elections.
