'It's best not to mess with us .... Russia is one of the leading nuclear powers'

Colin Freeman

Russian president Vladimir Putin raised the spectre of nuclear war with the West last night as he defied international condemnation over his decision to send thousands of Russian troops and heavy armour into eastern Ukraine.

Accused by Europe and NATO of launching a full-scale invasion, the Russian president boasted to a group of Russian youngsters that "It's best not to mess with us".

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