Vladimir Putin brands Keir Starmer 'little pig' and moves nuclear missiles within EIGHT minutes of London

"Everyone believed that Russia would be destroyed and collapsed in a short period of time," Mr Putin declared.

"And the European piglets immediately joined in this work of the former American [Biden] administration, hoping to profit from the collapse of our country.

"As is now obvious to everyone, all these attempts and all these destructive plans against Russia have completely failed," he vowed.

The premier then promised to continue his invasion of Ukraine until his demands are satisfied - just days after threatening to fight "until the last Ukrainian dies".

And in a chilling announcement, he declared that Russia's Oreshnik missile system would be stationed in Belarus within the coming fortnight.

Russian state media claims the nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic weapon would be able to strike the British capital in just eight minutes.

The President showed no willingness to back down from his territorial ambitions in eastern Ukraine.

"The objectives of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved," he told military commanders.

He threatened to build such overwhelming military strength that European nations would be forced to submit to Russian demands.

"If the opposing side and their foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive talks, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means," Mr Putin warned.

He also vowed to establish and expand a security "buffer zone" around Russian territory - which could include countries like the Baltics, Norway and Finland.

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Mr Putin went on to forecast years of continued warfare, suggesting resolution was impossible with current European leadership.

"We are ready to negotiate and resolve all the problems that have arisen in recent years peacefully," he claimed.

Yet he placed blame squarely on European politicians for the conflict's continuation.

"The US administration has demonstrated such readiness, and we are engaged in dialogue with them. I hope the same will happen in Europe," he said.

But he said that a change in attitude would only come if Western leaders are removed from office.

"It's unlikely that this will be possible with the current political elites, but in any case, it will be inevitable as we continue to strengthen our position," Mr Putin vowed.

"If not with the current politicians, then with the change of the current elites in Europe."

Putin delivered his speech as Russian forces launched glide bomb attacks on residential buildings in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia.

The assault wounded 26 people, including a child, with rescue teams searching through rubble for survivors.

In his address, Mr Putin boasted of capturing 300 settlements, including what he described as large cities.

However, Russia has not seized any major urban centres in the past year, taking only small, previously unknown villages.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Kupyansk just five days ago, a city Putin had claimed was "liberated".

Putin also trumpeted Russia's nuclear arsenal, including the Burevestnik cruise missile and Poseidon underwater drone.

"Thanks to their nuclear power plants, these systems will remain unique and one-of-a-kind for a long time to come," he said.