MOSCOW – Russia may potentially use nuclear weapons only in the event of animpending nuclear attack, or if there is a threat to the country’sexistence, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with theNBC broadcaster, Sputnik has reported.

“There can be two reasons that can make us use nuclear weapons: an attackagainst us with nuclear weapons or an attack on Russia with conventionalweaponslink>.But the second case is only if it threatens the existence of the Russianstate,” Vladimir Putin said.

Putin said he had offered to collaborate on the joint improvementof missile defenseslink>withtheUnited States but had been rebuffed, so he had to act in Russia’s bestinterests.

“Instead of creating threats to one another, great powers should join theirefforts in protecting against terrorists,” he said.

Commenting on suggestions that Russia could spark a new Cold War, Putinemphasized, “the individuals that have said that a new Cold War has startedare not analysts. They do propaganda.”

On Thursday, Putin made his annual address to the country’s bicameralparliamentlink>,the Federal Assembly, which comprises the Federation Council and StateDuma. The Russian leader announced his country’s development of new typesof armaments, including intercontinental underwater drones, nuclear-poweredcruise missiles, and a prospective hypersonic missile, and showed footagefeaturing tests of these weapons.

The Russian president stressed that Russia’s efforts toward enhancing itsdefense capabilities were being carried out within the frameworkof existing international accords. According to Putin, Russia is creatingadvanced weapon systems in response to the deployment of US missile defensesystems, and these arms present no threat to other states.