Putin has warned the West of the threat of nuclear war, saying Moscow could attack Western targets

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By Nicholas McEntire

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened Western countries with his country's nuclear arsenal that could 'hit targets on their borders' if they continue to support Ukraine.

During his annual address to parliament and other top officials on Thursday, the 71-year-old Putin repeatedly accused the West of focusing on weakening the eastern European country while issuing ominous warnings.

“(Western countries) must realize that we also have weapons that can hit targets in their region,” Putin said. “All this threatens conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization. Don't they understand that?!”

Putin, who is up for re-election to another six-year term during the upcoming March 15-17 presidential election, has boasted about Russia's vast modern nuclear arsenal, the largest in the world.

The startling warning came after Putin mentioned French President Emmanuel Macron's idea of ​​European NATO members sending ground troops to Ukraine, which was rejected by the US, Britain and Germany.

“Strategic nuclear forces are in full readiness,” Putin said, adding that the new generation of hypersonic nuclear weapons he first talked about in 2018 were deployed or nearing completion of development and testing.

The Russian leader's speech came a day after the head of the European Commission suggested freezing Russian assets to finance Ukraine.

With visible anger, Putin suggested Western politicians recall the fates of Nazi Germany's Adolf Hitler and France's Napoleon Bonaparte.

“But now the consequences will be very sad,” Putin said. “They think it (the war) is a cartoon,” he said.

With post wires.