China News Service, March 13. According to RIA Novosti, on the 13th local time, Russian media published Russian President Vladimir Putin’s joint interview with the “Russia 1” TV station and RIA Novosti.

Putin made comments on nuclear weapons, the Ukraine crisis and other issues.

　　According to RIA Novosti, the host of the interview and the president of Russia Today International News Agency, Kiselyov, said that after Putin delivered his State of the Union address at the end of February, new issues emerged, and "there is also a need for an updated assessment of new threats from the West." .

File photo: Russian President Putin.

　　According to reports, when asked whether he was prepared to use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine crisis, Putin said that Russia has its own principles and its attitude on this issue has not changed. “If Russia’s national survival is threatened, if ours Sovereignty and independence are compromised, and we are ready to use weapons at any time...including the weapons you mentioned (referring to nuclear weapons).

　　Putin also said that Russia is ready for nuclear war "from a military and technical perspective", but he does not think "everything will directly come to this point."

　　Regarding the Ukraine crisis, Putin said that military personnel from Western countries have long been present in Ukraine as advisers and mercenaries.

Putin believes that even if foreign official troops enter Ukraine, it will not change the situation of the war, and the West's provision of arms to Ukraine will not change anything.

　　Putin said Russia was ready to negotiate on Ukraine, but that negotiations must be "based on reality."

　　He said that the negotiations are not a break created to rearm Ukraine, but should be a serious dialogue related to the security guarantees of the Russian Federation.

Putin emphasized that Russia is ready for serious dialogue and that Russia hopes to resolve all disputes through peaceful means, especially the Ukrainian issue.

　　Regarding Russia's Nordic neighbors Finland and Sweden joining NATO, Putin said that Finland and Sweden "want to be under some kind of protective umbrella" but this move "makes no sense."

As Finland and Sweden join NATO, Russian troops and defense systems will be present near the two countries' borders.