President Vladimir Putin says Russia will continue to develop nuclear weapons but doesn't intend to use them.

The Russian leader made the comment in a documentary called "World Order" that was aired on state television today night.

"Russia as a leading nuclear country will be improving this weapon as a containment factor; the nuclear triad is the basis of our nuclear security polices," he said, referring to the three main delivery systems for nuclear warheads - bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ICBMs.

"We have never brandished or will brandish this nuclear club, but our military doctrine allocates it a place and role," he said, according to excerpts reported by the state news agency Tass.