Emphasizing Russia Can Use Nuclear Weapons If Threatened, President Putin: This Should Not Be Considered Enteng

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin warned Western countries not to take the risk of nuclear war lightly, insisting Russia could use all means to defend itself if its sovereignty or territorial integrity is threatened.

Speaking to senior editors of the international news agency in St Petersburg, President Putin said Russia's nuclear doctrine allowed such weapons to be used in response to a number of threats.

"For some reason, the West believes that Russia will never use it," President Putin said.

"We have a nuclear doctrine, look what he said. If someone's actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we think it's possible for us to use all the means we have. This should not be taken lightly," he stressed.

The Kremlin's leader said he could deploy conventional missiles within the United States' attack range and its allies in Europe if they allowed Ukraine to attack deeper into Russia with Western long-range weapons.

Russia's response, he said, was to shoot down Western missiles, and specifically mentioned US ATACMS, as well as the UK and French missile systems.

President Putin also said Moscow was considering deploying similar high-tech long-range missiles close enough to attack countries that allow Ukraine to attack Russian territory with these missiles.

President Putin described the conflict in Ukraine as part of a slumping existential battle with the West and decades that he said embarrassed Russia after the Berlin Wall collapsed in 1989 by penetrating what he considered Moscow's sphere of influence, including Ukraine.

Both President Putin and US President Joe Biden have said direct conflict between Russia, the world's largest nuclear power, and the US-led NATO will be a step towards the Third World War.

"You shouldn't make Russia an enemy. You're just going to hurt yourself with this, you know?" President Putin said.

"They thought Russia wanted to attack NATO. Are you really crazy? It's as thick as this table. Who came up with this? It's really nonsense, you know? It's really trash," he said.