Putin's right-hand man chillingly warns Russia's nukes are in 'full combat readiness'

Vladimir Putin's right-hand man Sergey Lavrov appears to have warned Russia's nuclear weapons are in "full combat readiness".

The Russian Foreign Minister said Russia possesses weapons that will have "serious" implications for Ukraine's "handlers", in an apparent reference to the war-torn country's Western allies.

Lavrov's remarks have been interpreted by some as signalling Russia's nuclear arsenal is ready for use. He told Sky News Arabia Russia doesn't want a nuclear war and dismissed talk of pressing a "red button".

Russia's top diplomat has been quoted as saying: "We talk about red lines, expecting our assessments, statements will be heard by intelligent, decision-making people.

"It is not serious to say that if tomorrow you do not do what I demand of you, we will press the 'red button."

He continued: "I am convinced that in such situations, decision makers have an idea of what we are talking about. Nobody wants a nuclear war."

The foreign minister warned Russia has weapons "that will have serious implications for the handlers of the Ukrainian regime", adding: "[Russia] does have such weapons. They are in full combat readiness."

Lavrov's warning comes after former Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev described use of nuclear weapons as a "hugely complex" decision with "irreversible consequences".

Medvedev went on to caution: "What arrogant Anglo-Saxon dimwits fail to admit, though, is that you can only test someone's patience for so long."

The chilling rhetoric comes as Ukraine continues to push for permission from its Western allies to use the long-range missiles they have provided to strike targets deep inside Russia.

By doing so Kyiv hopes to turn the tide of the war as Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow has warned it would consider allowing such long-range strikes an act of war. Kyiv's Western allies are wary of antagonising the country with one of the world's largest nuclear arsenals.

CIA Director Bill Burns said during a trip to the UK earlier this month that the West shouldn't be intimidated by the Kremlin's threats of nuclear escalation.

He argued threats from Moscow can't always be taken literally, adding in comments reported by the Guardian newspaper: "Putin’s a bully. He’s going to continue to sabre rattle from time to time. We cannot afford to be intimidated by that sabre rattling... We [have] got to be mindful of it."

Russia has 5,580 nuclear warheads, according to the Arms Control Association, while the US has slightly more with 5,748. Together, both countries account for 90 percent of the combined global total of 12,100 nukes.