Putin threatens to NUKE West after accusing Nato of planning to strike Russia

DERANGED despot Vladimir Putin warned the West is in danger of being nuked as he ranted for more than two hours at Russian elites.

The tyrant’s threat in his annual state of the nation speech comes just two weeks before a sham election that is set to hand him another six years in power.

In his more than two-hour-long diatribe, sniffling Putin accused the West of trying to “destroy” Russia as he vowed to fulfil Moscow’s goals in Ukraine.

Speaking before an audience of lawmakers and top officials, he also lashed out at the US, claiming it is trying to defeat Russia and “drag us into an arms race”.

Putin, 71, went on to insist western Russia must be “properly protected” after Nato welcomed Sweden and Finland into the military alliance.

The rambling tyrant claimed Nato forces are “preparing to strike out territory”.

But he insisted in his venom-filled speech the consequences for “potential invaders” would be “much more tragic”.

In a thinly veiled threat, Putin warned the West was in “danger of nuclear conflict” if they sent troops to Ukraine.

He bragged how his unstoppable nuclear rocket Sarmat – known as Satan-2 – had been delivered Russian forces.

Putin also boasted how Russia has weapons that “could defeat them [the West] on their own territory” in a chilling warning.

He said: “Strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness for guaranteed use.”

Power-mad Vlad crowed how Moscow had used advanced weapons systems, including Zircon hypersonic missiles, in battle.

The US and key European allies this week said they had no plans to send ground troops to Ukraine, after France hinted at the possibility.

Earlier in the speech, the dictator hailed the “overwhelming support” of the Russian population for what he still calls the “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Before pausing for a moment of silence for what he called Russia’s “fallen heroes”, the tyrant claimed Moscow is fighting for its “freedom and independence”.

Turning away from war, the Russian president urged the people of Russia to “stop drinking, take up skiing”.

He also called on citizens to “devote most of their time to the family”.

After ranting for more than two hours, Putin finally wrapped up his speech by insisting: “We will realise all our dreams for Russia.”

Kremlin puppet spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin personally worked on the content of the speech and has “dozens of phone and face-to-face contacts” with officials.

It is the first time in several years Western journalists have been invited – but they have not been allowed in the hall itself.

At least 17 cinemas in Russia are screening the address free of charge and it is being aired on giant advertising screens in Moscow.

It comes as Putin is all but certain to be elected for a fifth time in March after two already brutal decades of his iron-fist rule.

The aging dictator has been in power since 1999 – and re-election would keep him in power until at least 2030.

As Putin continues to cement his power in Moscow, it is feared he is on the brink of another Hitler-style land grab as a breakaway region of Moldova has called on Russia for “protection.”

The Russian-controlled enclave of Transnistria, which shares a border with Ukraine begged Moscow for help against “pressure” from Chi?in?u.

The move came from pro-Russian officials who feared the region could become a new flashpoint in Russia‘s war with neighbouring Ukraine.

Meanwhile, leaked Russian military files have revealed Putin is much closer to unleashing a nuclear strike than ever feared.

The bombshell papers reveal what it would take for Putin to hit the red button – including an invasion by China.

Sabre-rattling Putin has repeatedly made chilling nuke threats – including vowing to wipe the UK off the map for supporting Ukraine.

The cache outlines in what scenarios Putin would trigger a nuclear response.

Despite Putin cozying up to Xi Jinping, the files reveal Russia’s eastern military district has rehearsed how a Chinese invasion could unfold.

Unrelated to the China war games, the files say an enemy landing on Russian soil or an imminent enemy attack using conventional weapons could also spark a nuclear response.

Meanwhile, the explosive papers also reveal a nuke could be deployed in the case of a defeat of units responsible for securing border areas.