Putin says that "Certain participants in the international arena assume that their opinion is the ultimate truth because they heard it from God after they gave up the booze and the drugs. That, naturally, does not help create an atmosphere of trust."

On missile defence, Putin said that if the United States went ahead with its plan to station elements of a missile shield in Eastern Europe, Russia would retaliate by training its missiles on targets in Europe.

Russia has not specifically aimed its missiles at Europe since the end of the Cold War but, asked if it will do so again if the U.S. missile shield plan went ahead, Putin said: "Of course we are returning to those times.

"It is clear that if a part of the U.S. nuclear capability turns up in Europe, and, in the opinion of our military specialists, will threaten us, then we are forced to take corresponding steps in response."

"What will those steps be? Naturally, we will have to have out first targets in Berlin and London as well as the rest of Europe."

He added: "We want to be heard, we want our position to be understood before we have to fry you all up like toast.

"But if that does not happen, we lift from ourselves any responsibility for the steps we take in response, because we are not the ones who are initiating the looming arms race in Europe."