Any country attempting to engage in the Ukraine conflict would be met with a “lightning-fast” response, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We have all the capabilities that no one else has… we will use them if required,” he warned, referring to ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.
Ukraine’s allies have increased armament supplies, with the US pledging to ensure that Ukraine destroys Russia.
Russia’s operations in the east, according to Western diplomats, are limited.
After retreating from regions near Kyiv, Russia started a strong attack to conquer the Donbas region last week.
Russian soldiers, meanwhile, are “finding it difficult to overcome the stout Ukrainian opposition and are suffering losses,” according to one officer.
In another incident, the European Commission has accused Russia of blackmailing Poland and Bulgaria by cutting off gas shipments.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, said it demonstrated Russia’s “unreliability” as a supplier.
The Kremlin said that “unfriendly acts” taken by Western countries compelled Russia to take action.
Gazprom’s cutoff comes after Poland and Bulgaria refused to pay for gas in Russian roubles, a demand made by President Vladimir Putin in March in order to support the country’s struggling currency, which has been pummeled by Western sanctions.
On Wednesday, Mr Putin made his remarks to Russian MPs in the northern city of St Petersburg.
“Our response will be lightning swift if someone from the outside tries to meddle in Ukraine and create strategic risks for Russia,” he warned.
“No one can compare to us in terms of [response] capabilities. And we won’t gloat about them; instead, we’ll utilize them if required.”
All choices on what that reaction would contain have already been taken, according to the Russian leader, who did not provide any other information.
On the 24th of February, Russia invaded Ukraine, and President Putin ordered his military to put Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces on high alert within days.
According to analysts, Mr Putin’s warnings are an attempt to warn Ukraine’s friends not to interfere further in the crisis.