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Russia's leader Vladimir Putin was responding a question during his annual phone-in where he takes questions from the members of the public.

He warned World War 3 would be the end of civlisation, and that should "restrain" world powers fron taking "dangerous steps".

Relations between Russia and the West have plunged to Cold War lows amid tensions over Syria, Crimea, NATO build-ups and Sergei Skripal.

Putin said pressure on Russia from the West will end when they realise they are "counter productive".

And he said fears of mutally assured destruction from nuclear is forcing "powers to respect each other".

He said: ""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 civilisation."

"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."

"We believe that the unilateral introduction of all kinds of sanctions does not resolve problems, it only worsens them."

(Image: GETTY) (Image: GETTY)

Global tensions between Russia and the West have reached new highs in 2018, with UN chiefs describing the Cold War as "back with a vengeance".

Fears of direct military confrontation were raised back in April as the US, UK and France decided to attack Syria – one of Russia's closest allies over allegations of chemical weapons.

And ongoing rows over the accusations of election interference in the US have soured relations between Moscow and Washington.

Meanwhile, the West condemned Russia over the attempted murder of MI6 double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.

The Kremlin has always denied any involvement in the Novichok poisoning of the spy and his daughter back in March.

Putin also quoted Albert Einstein, saying: “I do not know with what weapons World War 3 will be fought, but World War 4 will be fought with sticks and stones."

Tensions have raged between the West and Russia on the fringes of Eastern Europe since the annexation of Crimea from the Ukraine in 2014.

NATO forces have piled into the region, with Russia and the alliance claiming military build-up is a direct response to the other.

Europe has remained on edge of allegations of "Russian aggression" on its borders, something the Kremlin denies.

(Image: DS)

The Russian leader said he warned Europe a few years ago about the risk of the United States imposing its rules on other countries.

Putin however moaned nobody had wanted to listen – with the Russian leader warning of a "global ecnomic crisis" last month.

And he said steel tariffs imposed by Washington on other nations amounted to sanctions.

European countries had never expected they would be affected by such measures, he said.

Putin also said Russian businessmen were being persecuted in countries like Britain and that they would be better off in Russia along with their assets.

He was was answering a question about visa problems experienced by billionaire Roman Abramovich in Britain.

The Russian leader added he had advised business people to keep their assets inside Russia and said that pressure on Russian businessmen was undermining trust in Western countries.