-
UK says Putin's threats must be taken seriously
-
Earlier, Putin said that Russia had "lots of weapons to reply" to what he called Western threats and said that he was not bluffing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech on Wednesday (Sep 21) was 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," she said.
Earlier, Putin said that Russia had "lots of weapons to reply" to what he called Western threats and said that he was not bluffing.
In a rare address to the nation, he said he wasn't bluffing and would use "all the means at our disposal" if Russia's territorial integrity was threatened.
"Now they (the West) are talking about nuclear blackmail," said the Russian leader.
"The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was shelled and also some high positions - representatives of NATO states - who are saying there might be possibility and permissibility to use nuclear weapons against Russia," he added.
He said such people should "be reminded that our country also has various weapons of destruction, and with regard to certain components they're even more modern than NATO ones".
Putin: Ukraine counter-offensive won't change Russia's plans
"If there is a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and for protecting our people we will certainly use all the means available to us - and I'm not bluffing," said President Putin.
Mr Putin also ordered an immediate "partial mobilisation" - calling up the country's military reserves - a move that Russia's foreign minister said amounted to around 300,000 troops.
levantnews-agencies
