Putin warns of “lightning quick” retaliation against the West if he meddles in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of “rapid retaliation” from Moscow if the West interferes in Ukraine

Speaking to lawmakers in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Putin accused the West of wanting to dismember Russia and “economically strangle” the country.

He also claimed that Western countries had pushed Ukraine into conflict with Russia and claimed that his forces in Ukraine had stopped “a real threat of a … major conflict unfolding on our territory.”

Mr Putin warned that any countries trying to meddle in Ukraine would face a “lightning quick” response.

The Russian President said: “If anyone intends to intervene in ongoing events [in Ukraine] from the outside and creates unacceptable strategic threats to us, then they should know that we will react to these attacks quickly and with lightning speed.

Mr Putin added that Russian troops would not hesitate to use the most modern weapons if pressed.

Apparently referring to the recent Russian tests of hypersonic and ICBMs capable of carrying nuclear warheads, he said: “We have all the tools for that – ones that no one can brag about. And we won’t brag. We will use them when necessary. And I want everyone to know that.

“We have already made all the decisions on this.”

Just last week, Russia announced that it had successfully conducted a test launch of the RS-28Sarmat ICBM, one of the world’s most destructive missiles.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned on Tuesday that the threat of nuclear war is now “significant” as Western nations continue to supply arms to Ukraine’s armed forces.