Putin threatens to use nuclear weapons to “protect the sovereignty”

Russia's president says he does not threaten the world with nuclear weapons, but is ready to use them in the event of a threat to sovereignty

Vladimir Putin said this at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"One irresponsible politician is babbling something, then another - just among the other things, at a very high level, at the level of, say, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The high-positioned people there are thinking about something on this topic, - Putin complained. - And we have to stay silent? We answer properly. And as soon as we answer, they cling to our words: here, Russia is threatening everyone! We do not threaten! But everyone should know that we have the weapons and we will use them if it’ll be needed to protect our sovereignty."