Ex-Putin adviser warns UK cities could be hit with nuclear weapons if Britain ‘continues to be aggressor’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery The former Putin advisor launched into a rant about nuclear war within seconds of his BBC Radio 4 interview Mr Markov was asked if he believed the Russian leader had made a clear threat not just to use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine but also to start a general nuclear war that would kill everyone. This nuclear war could be result of the crazy behaviour of the president of the United States, Joe Biden, and prime ministers of Great Britain, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.” open image in gallery Vladimir Putin warned he would be prepared to use nuclear weapons to protect Russia He claimed Russia “doesn’t want everybody in the world to die” in a nuclear war but that it wanted to resolve the war in Ukraine, that he claimed was being fought by Western countries “using Ukrainian soldiers as their slaves”. You’ve just threatened us all with complete destruction, nuclear missiles coming to London, you said, and now you talk about peace.” Mr Markov replied: “If Great Britain continues to be aggressor against Russia, if the prime minister of Great Britain, Liz Truss, still has a plan to destroy Russia, people in London should understand this threat comes from Liz Truss who is aggressor.” He concluded the interview shouting at the presenter, claiming Russia did not invade Ukraine and blaming the West for the war. “And talk of nuclear war is very unhelpful and we would urge calm.” open image in gallery Russia invaded Ukraine seven months ago She added: “It is a serious threat but it is one that has been made before.” Mr Markov has previously made baseless claims about the war in Ukraine to UK media, telling Sky News Volodymyr Zelensky was a “puppet” of the US and Russia invaded Ukraine to liberate it from “neo-Nazis”.