Vladimir Putin has warned of a World War 3 "global conflict" as he issued a nuclear threat during his major speech today.
The Russian President has threatened to take the war cross-border and appeared to justify the use of nuclear weapons in the State of the Nation speech ahead of the one-year anniversary of his war in Ukraine.
In the very rambling speech, he took nearly half an hour before a specific threat was made.
Putin railed against the West in his long-delayed state-of-the-nation address - and said it was seeking to turn the war into a "global conflict".
He also frequently justified his invasion of his neighbour by accusing Western countries of threatening Russia: “It’s they who have started the war. And we are using force to end it."
To follow The Mirror's live blog on Vladimir Putin's speech, click here
In his first direct warning, he said: “The more long-range Western systems are being delivered to Ukraine, the farther we will be forced to move the threat from our borders.”
He also used language which indicated a defeat in Ukraine would justify the use of nuclear weapons.
Keir Giles, an expert on security issues affecting Russia, told the Mirror that Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons were more subtle than we have heard previously, but were still there.
If you can't see the poll, click here
Mr Giles said: "His roundabout language leaned on key phrases from Russian military doctrine to indirectly threaten nuclear consequences if Russia is defeated in Ukraine.
"He said that calls in the West for the 'strategic defeat of Russia' means they want to turn a local conflict into a global conflict.
"And that, he said, means Russia 'will respond accordingly because then we are talking about the existence of our country' - a key criterion in Russia's doctrine for when nuclear weapons can be used.
"It's a coded message intended once again to deter Western backers from providing the essential war-winning support to Ukraine that it needs to bring the war to a conclusion."
However, people have noted he has made similar threats before. Andrew Roth, the Guardian's Moscow Correspondent, said: "This is an extremely conservative speech given the stress Putin has put on his country by launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"No new ideas, no big plan, no end to war. He's betting on stability, but it looks like stagnation."
The crowd were seen laughing and taking selfies as they waited for their brute boss to begin his landmark speech.
Some of the dignitaries shown on Russian television in the audience for Putin’s speech include Dmitri Medvedev, the vice chairman of Putin’s Security Council, Igor Sechin, the powerful head of oil giant Rosneft, Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church and Anton Siluanov who is the finance minister.
He began by saying he was addressing the nation at a time of “the most important historical events that are determining the future of our country and our people" and he insisted his decision to invade a year ago was justified.
He said: "Step by step, we will accomplish all our tasks carefully and consistently."
The rouble weakened on Tuesday as the warmonger prepared to update Russia's political and military elite on the Ukraine conflict.
"One year later, Kyiv stands," Biden declared after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mariinsky Palace. He jabbed his finger for emphasis on his podium, against a backdrop of three flags from each country, he continued: "And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you."
Mr Peskov also told reporters that "we don't rule out" Putin's meeting with Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party's most senior foreign policy official, who's visiting the Russian capital.
Peskov hailed Russia-China ties as "multidimensional and allied in nature."
Meanwhile, Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda as Mr Putin's speech is starting.
