Putin warns foreign powers against crossing Russia’s ‘red lines’

Russian president’s comments in annual state-of-the-nation address come as tensions with the West plunge to post-Cold War lows.

As a rift between Russia and the West widens, President Vladimir Putin has used his annual state-of-the-nation speech to warn that Moscow is prepared to respond harshly to any foreign provocations. Addressing top officials and legislators from both houses of the Russian parliament in the capital, Putin said his government strived to have good relations with other countries and hoped no foreign state would cross the Kremlin’s “red lines”. “We want good relations … and really don’t want to burn bridges,” Putin said.