Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning on Wednesday, saying that Russia is all set to use nuclear weapons if there is a threat to Russia's statehood, sovereignty, or independence.
Putin’s statement comes just days ahead of elections in Russia that are expected to grant him another six years in power.
During an interview on Russian state television, Putin expressed his desire for the U.S. to avoid actions that could lead to a nuclear war. However, he emphasized that Russia's nuclear capabilities are well-prepared to handle such a situation.
“Our triad, the nuclear triad, it is more modern than any other triad. Only we and the Americans actually have such triads. And we have advanced much more here", Putin added
When asked if he has ever thought about the use of battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Putin said that there has been no need for that.
In a clear reference to NATO allies, he also declared that “the nations that say they have no red lines regarding Russia should realize that Russia won’t have any red lines regarding them either.”
In the interview, Putin described U.S. President Joe Biden as a veteran politician who fully understands possible dangers of escalation, and said that he doesn’t think that the world is heading to a nuclear war.