The threat of nuclear war is rising, says Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin insists that Russia has not "gone mad".
Vladimir Putin feels the threat of nuclear war is rising - but insists Russia has not "gone mad".
Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, but the country's president has insisted that he will only use nuclear weapons in response to an attack.
Talking via video link from Moscow, Putin admitted: "Such a threat is growing, it would be wrong to hide it."
Despite this, Putin claimed that nuclear weapons will only be used in extreme circumstances.
He explained: "We have not gone mad - we are aware of what nuclear weapons are."
Putin, 70, also insisted that Russia doesn't wish to threaten other countries with its weapons.
He said: "We aren't about to run around the world brandishing this weapon like a razor."
On the other hand, Putin boasted about the strength of the Russian military, despite their troubles in Ukraine.
The president also criticised the US for putting some its nuclear weapons within striking distance of Russia.
He said: "We do not have nuclear weapons, including tactical ones, on the territory of other countries, but the Americans do - in Turkey, and in a number of other European countries."
In November, US officials claimed that some Russian military leaders had discussed the possibility of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
At the time, the White House admitted that it was "increasingly concerned" about the potential use of nuclear weapons - but the US also stressed that it didn't have any evidence that it was an imminent threat.
Similarly, Josep Borrell - the EU's foreign policy chief - admitted in September that the war in Ukraine had reached a "dangerous moment".
He explained: "Certainly it's a dangerous moment because the Russian army has been pushed into a corner, and Putin's reaction - threatening using nuclear arms - it's very bad."
