Putin walks out of nuclear pact, says US and Ukraine were ready to attack

'West intends to transform a local conflict into a phase of global confrontation

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday delivered a warning to the West over Ukraine by suspending a landmark nuclear arms control treaty, announcing that new strategic systems had been put on combat duty, and threatening to resume nuclear tests.

It came ahead of an address later by President Biden who is in Poland to meet President Andrzej Duda.

Putin said Russia would achieve its aims and accused the West of trying to destroy it.

“The elites of the West do not hide their purpose. But they also cannot fail to realise that it is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield,” he said.

Alleging