An angry Vladimir Putin claims the West has failed in its plan of economic sanctions against Russia, before warning of a "lightning fast" response if any country threatens his in another hint at a possible nuclear attack.
Almost spitting his words out, the Russian President said any countries attempting to interfere in the ongoing Ukraine invasion would be faced with a swift response from Russia, and said all decisions on how Moscow would react in that situation have already been taken.
"If someone intends to interfere in what is going on from the outside they must know that constitutes an unacceptable strategic threat to Russia," he told lawmakers in St Petersburg in a televised address.
"They must know that our response to counter strikes will be lightning fast. Fast."
He went on: "We have all the weapons we need for this. No one else can brag about these weapons, and we won't brag about them. But we will use them."
Putin also said the West wanted to cut Russia up into different pieces and accused it of pushing Ukraine into conflict.
He said the West's plan to tighten economic sanctions on Russia had failed, insisting the rouble, banking system, transport sector and economy as a whole have withstood sanctions imposed against Moscow.
Russia's economy ministry expects gross domestic product to shrink by 8.8% in 2022 in its base case scenario, or by 12.4% under a more conservative scenario, a document seen by Reuters showed on Wednesday, suggesting that sanctions pressure is taking its toll.
Putin earlier told the Council of Legislators that the so-called special operation in Ukraine had been going to plan.
He added: “Our soldiers and officers have prevented a real threat which was hanging over our motherland.
“Their courage and heroism prevented as large scale conflict which would have spread on our territory."
He then went on to blame the West for forcing Ukraine into a war with Russia.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is ongoing and started in February 2014.
Tensions have centred around the status of Crimea and parts of the Donbas — both are internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.
Earlier today the Mirror reported that Russia has issued a chilling new threat to the UK over continued weapon supplies to Ukraine.
Putin's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said strikes could be authorised against NATO member countries' military targets.
