Putin claims that Western countries have carried out nuclear blackmail against Russia!

Putin said that the world is facing the most dangerous decade since World War II, and Western countries have carried out nuclear blackmail against Russia!

The world faces "probably the most dangerous" decade since the end of World War Two, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned.

Speaking after a series of military defeats in Ukraine, he sought to justify Russia's invasion which has left his country internationally isolated.

Mr Putin is also facing growing public anger at home over his drive to mobilise around 300,000 Russians for the Ukraine war effort.

Mr Putin accused the West of nuclear blackmail against Russia. The West has denounced recent veiled nuclear threats by the Kremlin.

The Nato military alliance recently condemned claims by Russia that Ukraine might use a "dirty bomb” - meaning conventional explosives laced with radioactive material.

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg rejected the suggestion and said "Russia must not use it as a pretext for escalation".