Russian President Vladimir Putin told NATO countries on Thursday they risked a nuclear conflict if they sent troops to Ukraine, adding that Russia should strengthen its Western military following the admission of Finland and Sweden to the Atlantic alliance.
Putin also warned that Russia has weapons capable of hitting targets in the West. “Western countries must understand that we also have weapons capable of hitting targets on their territory. All this actually threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization. Don’t they understand this?” Putin said.
The United States and its main European allies said this week they had no intention of sending ground troops to Ukraine after France hinted at such a possibility, according to Reuters.
The Russian president made the warning during his annual speech to the Russian parliament and other members of the country’s elite.