Vladimir Putin issues chilling 7 word threat to West as he's pressed about nuclear arsenal

Vladimir Putin has issued a chilling seven-word threat to the West during a marathon live event in which he was pressed on key changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine.

The Russian despot, 72, is participating in his annual end-of-year review in Moscow, where he is taking call-ins and questions from journalists. The rare appearance is made more unusual by the fact that Russian officials have permitted western journalists to participate in the massive event, with several questions touching on subjects Putin tends not to address.

Among them are the recent changes the premier made to a key government document - Russia's nuclear doctrine. Speaking about the recent alterations, which come with serious ramifications for western nations and their allies, Putin levelled a very thinly-veiled seven-word threat.

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Putin made the threats during a major end-of-year press conference (Image:AFP via Getty Images)

Putin updated Russia 's nuclear framework - which outlines situations in which his government is prepared to use nuclear weapons - in September this year. In what has been seen as a "bluff and bluster" attempt to intimidate western nations assisting Ukraine, the changes mean Russia is prepared to use the weapons in response to not just nuclear but conventional attacks.

In a pointed reference to the UK, US and other nations helping Ukrainians fight back against Russian incursions on their territory, the document adds that attacks from a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear power will be treated as a joint assault on Russia. Putin gave a chilling seven-word response to questions of whether the west has correctly interpreted the threat.

When asked whether "the message has been received from the west", Putin replied: "I don't know, you should ask them." He added: "If such states pose a threat to us, we reserve the right to use our nuclear weapons against them as well.” He doubled down on the threat when talking about his country's incoming missile development programme, challenging western nations to a "duel" in Ukraine.

Putin has touted the Oreshnik missiles as a major non-nuclear threat

Speaking about the hypersonic "Oreshnik" non-nuclear missiles, Putin told attendees at his press event that the defence system is a "modern, very new weapon". He threw down the gauntlet and challenged nations vying to protect Ukraine to test the Russian invention, claiming they have "no chance of shooting it down".

He said: "Let us conduct an experiment, sort of high-tech duel. Let them (the West) name a target in Kiev, concentrate their air defense and the let us fire Oreshnik to see if it hits the target. No chance of shooting it down." The Oreshnik missiles are said to be capable of flying at 10 times the speed of sound, making them nigh-unstoppable for modern air defence systems.

Putin announced on Monday that Russia would start producing the line of missiles - which have already been used in Ukraine - in the "near future” to "protect the security of Russia and our allies.”