Vladimir Putin has threatened to take the war cross-border as he made a speech ahead of the one year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.
During his State of the Nation speech today, the Russian leader appeared to justify the use of nuclear weapons.
In his long-winded address, Putin spoke for nearly half an hour before a specific threat was made, the Mirror reports.
He accused the West of plotting against Russia, which he used to justify his invasion of Ukraine: “It’s they who have started the war. And we are using force to end it."
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.”
His language also suggested that a defeat in Ukraine would justify a nuclear assault.
Keir Giles, an expert on security issues affecting Russia, told the Mirror that Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons were more subtle than in previous speeches, but still very much apparent.
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."
While waiting for Putin to take to the stage, the crowd were seen laughing and taking selfies.
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 finance minister Anton Siluanov.
During the opening of his speech, Putin said 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". He also insisted that his decision to invade Ukraine was the only reasonable step.
He said: "Step by step, we will accomplish all our tasks carefully and consistently."
Yesterday, US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Following their talk at Mariinsky Palace, Biden declared: "One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands.
"Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you."
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