Putin says statements about Ukraine's nuclear ambitions addressed to Russia: We heard them

MOSCOW. Feb 22 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia has heard Ukraine's statements about its nuclear ambitions, and they were primarily addressed to Russia.

"We understand that these words were addressed primarily to us, and I would like to say that we heard them," Putin told reporters when asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement on nuclear weapons.

Besides, the president said that the creation of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine means a strategic threat to Russia.

"What is the threat to us? In the fact that even the appearance of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine means a strategic threat to us. That is what we have to keep in mind, because from 110 [km] you can raise the range to 300, to 500 [km], well, that's it. And Moscow will be in the impact zone. This is a strategic threat to us and we have taken it that way. Of course, we will have to take this very seriously," Putin said.

The president noted that Ukraine has had extensive nuclear competence since Soviet times, saying "there are several nuclear units there and the nuclear industry is well and broadly developed."

"There is everything there to resolve this issue much faster than in those countries that are solving these problems from scratch," Putin added.