I am ready to use my nukes, Putin tells West

VLADIMIR Putin has chillingly warned the West that Russia is ready to use its nuclear weapons to protect their gains in Ukraine.

The Russian president told a state broadcaster yesterday that Moscow would deploy its arsenal of weapons if ‘the existence of the Russian state, our sovereignty and independence’ became at risk in the fighting in Ukraine.

Putin said he would view US troops sent to fight in Ukraine as invaders and act accordingly to defend Russia.

‘Reckless and irresponsible’

In reference to the Nato allies, Putin said: ‘The nations that say they have no red lines regarding Russia should realise that Russia won’t have any red lines regarding them either.’

In the interview with a Kremlincontrolled broadcaster, Putin said that there was currently no need for battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine and described US president Joe Biden as a veteran politician who was aware of the dangers of escalation.

The interview comes just days before an election which is certain to give Putin another sixyear term in power due to his tight control over the Russian political system.

After recent gains in Ukraine, Putin warned that the war would end with the invaded country and its Western allies signing a deal on Russian terms.

In his state-of-the-nation address last month, Putin again warned Western nations that deployment of their own troops into Ukraine could trigger a nuclear war.

The US said it has not seen any indications that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons, describing the country’s rhetoric as ‘reckless’ and ‘irresponsible’ throughout the conflict.

The comments come after a week of Ukrainian drone and missile attacks on Russia’s air and naval bases in the Black Sea, limiting Moscow’s naval operation in the region.

Earlier this week, a Russian missile injured 43 people and killed five in Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih. Mr Zelensky said: ‘Every day our cities and villages suffer similar attacks.

‘Every day Ukraine loses people because of Russian evil.’