Vladimir Putin has confirmed {that a} first batch of nuclear weapons has been deployed to Russia's consumer state of Belarus. And he despatched a blunt message to the West to "go to hell" over its calls for that Russia scale back its nuclear arms.

Belarus, dominated since 1994 by key Putin ally Aleksandr Lukashenko, served as a launchpad for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine final yr. And Lukashenko has already mentioned he wouldn't hesitate to make use of nuclear weapons if his nation is the goal of aggression.

On Friday (June 16) Putin instructed an viewers on the St Petersburg Economic Forum - a enterprise gathering often known as "Russia's Davos" - that the weapons would solely be used if Russia's territory or state is threatened.

Read extra: Putin considering use of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine

It is the primary time Moscow has deployed nuclear weapons exterior its borders for the reason that fall of the Soviet Union. When requested about the opportunity of utilizing the weapons, he replied: "Why should we threaten the whole world?

"I've already mentioned that using excessive measures is feasible in case there's a hazard to Russian statehood."

In a three-hour speech, Putin also said: "We have extra nuclear missiles than Nato nations, they usually wish to scale back our numbers."

"Go to hell," he added, to applause from delegates.

In one other warning to the West, the 70-year-old Russian chief additionally implied Russia might strike F-16 jets meant for Ukraine, even on Nato soil.

Putin additionally repeated his declare that Ukraine stood no probability of succeeding in its ongoing counter-offensive, claiming its losses had been greater than 10 occasions these of Russia, and it was operating out of weapons manufactured at dwelling.

"Everything with which they battle and every little thing that they use is introduced in from the surface," he said. "You can't battle for lengthy like that."

"We do not see any indications that Russia is making ready to make use of a nuclear weapon," US secretary of state Antony Blinken mentioned after Putin's feedback.