Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if threatened, Putin tells state media

President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if there is a threat to Russian statehood, sovereignty, or independence.
Speaking in an interview with Russian state television released early Wednesday, Putin said he hoped that the U.S. would avoid any escalation that could trigger a nuclear war, but emphasized that Russia’s nuclear forces are ready for it.
Asked if he has ever considered using battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Putin responded that there has