Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected any plans to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, describing the fighting there as part of the West's purported ambitions to ensure its worldwide dominance, which he stressed are bound to fail.

Putin stated at a meeting of international foreign policy experts that Russia's use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine would be futile.

Putin stated, "We see no need for it." "It serves no purpose, neither politically nor militarily."

Putin accused the U.S. and its allies of seeking to dictate their terms to other nations in a "dangerous, brutal, and ugly" dominance game in a lengthy address filled with insults.

Putin, who deployed his troops into Ukraine on February 24, has characterized Western support for Ukraine as part of broader efforts by the United States and its allies to impose their will on others via a so-called rules-based international order. He said that the world has reached a turning point in which "the West is no longer able to impose its will on humanity, but continues to do so, and the majority of nations will no longer allow it."

The Russian leader asserted that Western actions will exacerbate anarchy and added, "he who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind."

Putin stated, "Humanity today faces a choice: pile up problems that will inevitably destroy us all, or seek answers that may not be ideal but are effective and could make the world more stable and secure."

The Russian leader stated that Russia is not the adversary of the West, but that Russia will continue to reject the alleged dictates of Western neo-liberal elites, accusing them of attempting to subjugate Russia.

Putin stated, "Their objective is to make Russia more susceptible and a tool for achieving their geopolitical objectives; they have failed and will never succeed."

Putin restated his long-held contention that Russians and Ukrainians are members of a single nation and once more derided Ukraine as an "artificial state" that obtained historic Russian regions from Soviet communist overlords.

The Russian leader restated Moscow's unsubstantiated assertion that Ukraine planned to use a radioactive dirty bomb to blame Russia for a false-flag strike, allegations rejected by Ukraine and deemed "obviously absurd" by its Western partners.

Putin stated that he thinks "constantly" about the fatalities Russia has sustained in the Ukraine conflict, but that NATO's determination to rule out Ukraine's membership and Kyiv's refusal to stick to a peace settlement for its separatist conflict has left Moscow with no other option.

He denied underestimating Ukraine's ability to strike back and asserted that his "special military operation" had gone according to plan.

Putin acknowledged the difficulties caused by Western sanctions but said that Russia has become more cohesive and resistant to external pressure.