Putin has charged that the world is facing the ‘most dangerous decade’ since World War II

Earlier this week, the NATO military alliance condemned Russia’s unsubstantiated claims that Ukraine might use a “dirty bomb.” That is, conventional explosives mixed with radioactive material.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said alliance members “reject this allegation” and that “Russia should not use this as an excuse for expansion”.

Putin spoke at the annual Valdai forum after growing public anger in the country over recent military failures in Ukraine and a campaign to mobilize some 300,000 Russians for the war effort.

The day before his speech in Moscow, the Russian head of state oversaw a series of routine nuclear drills in what was said to be a nuclear strike in retaliation for a massive nuclear strike by an enemy.

“We have never said anything in advance about the use of nuclear weapons by Russia. We have only responded to comments expressed by Western leaders with suggestions,” he told his audience on Thursday.

During a campaign event in August, Putin suggested to former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss that he was ready to push the nuclear button if the circumstances required it. He said he was surprised Britain’s allies didn’t object: “What are we supposed to do? Shut up? Pretend we’re not listening?”

However, he himself has warned many times Russia will use “all available means” to defend itselfIt is widely seen as a clear nuclear threat.

The Russian president again blamed the West for what he called a “dangerous, bloody and dirty game” that denies nations’ sovereignty and individuality. The West’s “undivided dominance” in world affairs was now coming to an end, he said.

“We are on a historic frontier. It was the most dangerous, unpredictable and at the same time critical decade to come since the end of World War II.“, under control.

The West can no longer be in charge of global hegemony, but according to Putin it is “seriously trying”.

“The future world order is taking shape before our eyes,” he said, accusing the US-led West of trying to destroy Russia.

No evidence was provided to support his claims.

Analysis by Steve Rosenberg, BBC Russia editor

What we saw and heard this Thursday The world according to Vladimir Putin. It’s a world where Russia is completely clean and the West is responsible for everything from the war in Ukraine to the global food crisis.

We’ve seen a Kremlin leader who has absolutely no regrets about what he’s done, or at least isn’t willing to reveal it publicly if he has one.

So, Putin painted us a parallel reality of what was happening. Blaming the West for “igniting” the war in Ukraine, he insisted that the new world order must be based on “law and justice”. This is coming from a president who, eight months ago, launched a full-scale invasion of a sovereign and free nation.

Putin said Russia has been unfairly accused of threatening to use nuclear weapons. And yet, since February, Putin has dropped several subtle hints that he is prepared to use every weapon in Russia’s arsenal in the conflict.

To me, the most eloquent comment is about the “losses” that Putin admitted to suffering in his “special military operation”.

“I always think of the human lives lost,” he said. But that’s all he had to say on the matter, before quickly moving on to the “enormous benefits” Russia has received, including “strengthening Russia’s sovereignty.”

No regrets or regrets. There are no U-turn signs.

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