Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning to Western nations against the deployment of troops to Ukraine, cautioning that such actions could lead to tragic consequences. In his annual state of the nation address, Putin accused the West of attempting to embroil Russia in an arms race while emphasizing the need for bolstering defenses along the country's western border due to Sweden and Finland's alignment with NATO.

Putin criticized Western allegations that Russia instigated the conflict in Ukraine, dismissing them as falsehoods and cautioned against further escalation. Responding to recent remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron suggesting the possibility of NATO ground troops in Ukraine, Putin warned of dire repercussions for interventionist forces, highlighting Russia's military capabilities, including weapons capable of reaching adversary territories.

While NATO nations such as the US, Germany, and the UK have ruled out sending ground troops to Ukraine, the US State Department criticized Putin's rhetoric on nuclear warfare, emphasizing the irresponsibility of such statements from a nuclear-armed leader. Putin also boasted about Russia's advanced weaponry and asserted the readiness of its strategic nuclear forces.

In a departure from his previous characterizations of Russia's actions in Ukraine as a "special military operation," Putin acknowledged the conflict as a "war" and claimed widespread support among Russians for his decision to intervene. He also refuted US accusations regarding Russia's development of nuclear weapons targeting satellites in space.

The address, delivered just ahead of Russia's presidential election, which Putin is expected to win, focused extensively on domestic issues such as tax modernization, pension reforms, and initiatives to address the country's declining birth rate and life expectancy. Putin advocated for healthier lifestyles, urging citizens to engage in physical activity and reduce alcohol consumption.

The two-hour-long speech, attended by senior politicians, business leaders, and religious figures, was broadcasted across Moscow and screened in cinemas throughout Russia. Notably absent from Putin's address was any mention of the recent death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose passing Navalny's widow attributes to Putin, though circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation.