Russia is prepared to use nuclear weapons if the existence of the Russian state is threatened, Putin said. Russia’s nuclear triad is more advanced than that of any other country, Putin also said.

"From the military and technical point of view, we are, of course, ready," Sputnik quoted Putin as saying.

The Russian president added that his US counterpart, Joe Biden, is part of a "traditional school of politics" and also that the US has many other experts in the Russia-US relationship and strategic deterrence.

"That is why I do not think that everything is rushing head-on [in that direction], but we are ready for this," Putin said.

He also noted the United States is developing nuclear forces, but it does not mean that they are ready to unleash a nuclear war tomorrow.