As Putin eyes another six-year term in the presidential elections scheduled this week, the Russian President has warned the West that the country is technically ready for a nuclear war and any involvement of the US -- also in election year -- to help Ukraine would be seen as an escalation of the conflict, news agency Reuters reported.
Speaking ahead of the elections slated to be held on March 17-17, clarified that he does not see the nuclear war scenario as 'rushing', adding that as of now he does not feel the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
"From a military-technical point of view, we are, of course, ready," Putin said when asked if the country was prepared for a nuclear war, adding that if the US deployed its troops in Ukraine or on Russian territory, Moscow would treat that as an intervention.
"(In the U.S.) there are enough specialists in the field of Russian-American relations and in the field of strategic restraint," said Putin.
"Therefore, I don't think that here everything is rushing to it (nuclear confrontation), but we are ready for this," he added.
Putin's warning came on the heels of another offer for talks on Ukraine with the US claiming that the Russian President was not ready for serious talks. The war that has now raged for over two years has isolated Moscow from the West like never before and Putin has repeatedly warned of nuclear attacks if the West sends troops to Ukraine.
The war started in February 2022 when Putin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine. Meanwhile, the US, on the cusp of elections, is trying hard to support Ukraine against Russia as Moscow controls almost one-fifth of Kyiv's territory/
However, about Putin's series of nuclear warnings to the US, Washington has assured that it has not noticed major changes in Moscow's nuclear posture.