Putin Vows To Use Nuclear Weapons If Russia's Territory Is Threatened

'I am not bluffing': Putin vows to use nuclear weapons if Russia's territory is threatened

 PAUL WITHERS

Vladimir Putin has sent a terrifying message to West after vowing to use nuclear weapons if Russia's territory comes under threat. During a national address announcing a partial mobilisation for the country's military campaign in Ukraine, he reminded the West that Russia has modern weapons of destruction, saying: "I am not bluffing." The Russian President accused the West of engaging in nuclear blackmail against Russia, and warned his country has  "lots of weapons to reply" to what he called Western threats   

It was an ominous moment during the televised message to tens of millions of Russian - the first since he ordered troops into Ukraine on February 24.

Putin warned in his televised address to the nation: "If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we use all available means to protect our people - this is not a bluff."

The Russian President said he had signed a a decree on a partial mobilisation, a move that now significantly escalates the seven-month-long conflict in Ukraine.

It was an ominous moment during the televised message to tens of millions of Russian - the first since he ordered troops into Ukraine on February 24.

Putin warned in his televised address to the nation: "If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we use all available means to protect our people - this is not a bluff."

The Russian President said he had signed a a decree on a partial mobilisation, a move that now significantly escalates the seven-month-long conflict in Ukraine.

He added his aim is to "liberate" the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, claiming that most people in the regions under Russian control did not want to be ruled by Kyiv.

Putin said the mobilisation will begin today, adding: "I stress it is partial mobilisation. Only those who are in reserve will be conscripted.

"I shall stress that Russian citizens called up as part of mobilisation will be given all the benefits of those serving under contract."

The Russian President also said in the national address: "Citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and other areas free from the Nazi regime.

"We will be talking about the steps of protecting our sovereignty, support of the will and desire of our citizens to decide their will themselves."

He accused Western countries of are trying to "block" any independence and development, adding: "In order to force their will in brutal ways to other people. The aim of the West is still weaken and destroy, they are openly saying that."

Putin went on to say the "main aim" of "freeing" the people of the Donbas region "remains without change", adding he "supports" people aiming to hold referendums in Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine.

The UK has responded swiftly to the warnings from Putin, warning his speech is a worrying escalation and the threats he made in it must be taken seriously.

British Foreign Office minister Gillian Keegan told Sky News: "Clearly it's something that we should take very seriously because, you know, we're not in control - I'm not sure he's in control either, really. This is obviously an escalation."

Putin's NUCLEAR threat to the West: Vladimir warns Ukraine's allies he will use 'weapons of destruction', announces mobilisation of another 300,000 troops and declares 'I am NOT bluffing'