Vladimir Putin has made a direct threat to nuke the West as he accused NATO and the US of 'preparing to strike' Russia in his annual address to the nation.

The Russian president, 71, said: 'They, NATO and America, are active in other parts of the world, of course, and they continue to lie there, to deceive. 

'They are preparing to strike our territory and, using the best possible forces, the most effective forces to do so.

'But we remember the fate of those who try to invade our territory and of course their fate will be much more tragic than anything we could face.'

Putin repeatedly lauded Russia's vastly modernised nuclear arsenal in his speech and added as a warning to the West: 'They have to understand that we also have weapons, weapons that can defeat them on their own territory. 

'Of course all this is very dangerous, because it could actually trigger the use of nuclear weapons. Do they not understand that?' 

The Russian despot also chillingly assured that 'strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness for guaranteed use', but warned the use of nuclear weapons would equal the 'destruction of civilisation'.

He also told NATO countries that their threats have created a 'real' risk of nuclear war if they sent troops to Ukraine, adding that Russia must strengthen its western military district after Finland and Sweden's admission to the Atlantic alliance as Finland has a long land border with northwest Russia.

'They should eventually realise that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory.