Third World War will be end of civilization

President Vladimir Putin yesterday lashed out at US trade tariffs and Western sanctions during an annual televised phone-in that also saw him warning against a possible civilization-destroying World War Three.

"The understanding that a third world war could be the end of civilisation should restrain us from taking extreme steps on the international arena that are highly dangerous for modern civilization," Putin said answering a question.

"The threat of mutual destruction has always restrained participants of the international arena, prevented leading military powers from making hasty moves, and compelled participants to respect each other. US withdrawal from treaties on anti-ballistic missiles is an attempt to put an end to strategic parity, but we will respond to this," he added.

The event, which this year lasted almost five hours, allows Russians to submit questions on any theme and has in the past seen the president talk on topics as varied as his love life, Crimea and the state of provincial roads.

The phone-in was Putin's first since being re-elected to a historic fourth Kremlin term in March, and comes just a week before Russia is set to host the World Cup.

"Overall, we are moving completely in the right direction. We are on track for durable growth in the economy," he said in opening remarks to two moderators introducing questions from the public.

"There are, of course, a number of problems to address," he said of an economy that continues to stall after a crash in 2014 following sanctions introduced by the West over the annexation of Crimea.

Putin also compared the trade tariffs announced by President Donald Trump on US allies to Western sanctions against Russia.

On the international front, Putin also took the opportunity to say that Russia would remain in Syria for as long as it was beneficial to Moscow.

"Our military is there to ensure Russia's interests in an important region of the world," he said.

The president added the continued presence of Russian troops in the country would provide "invaluable experience" in the testing of new Russian weapons.

He meanwhile boasted Russia's new hypersonic intercontinental missile would enter service next year and guarantee Moscow maintains military parity with Washington.