"Putin's Nuclear War Warning Amid Russian Election Tensions"

Russian President Putin warns the West that Russia is prepared for nuclear war if its statehood, sovereignty, or independence is threatened, as tensions escalate ahead of Ukraine's presidential vote. Meanwhile, Germany will host talks with France and Poland to organize further aid for Ukraine, as volunteer Russian forces fighting against the Kremlin urge civilians to flee border areas and Moscow sends troops to its border with Finland. Putin's warning comes amid heightened concerns about the potential for the conflict in Ukraine to expand geographically and spin out of control due to the actions of individual NATO nations.