Just days before Russia’s presidential election, in which Vladimir Putin is widely expected to secure another six years in power, the Russian president said his country is ready to deploy nuclear weapons if its statehood, sovereignty, or independence are threatened. In an interview aired Wednesday, March 13, on Russia’s state television, Putin issued a warning to the United States, stating that sending troops to Ukraine would be perceived as a significant escalation.

“From a military-technical point of view, we are, of course, ready,” Putin, told Russian state media. “(In the U.S.) there are enough specialists in the field of Russian-American relations and in the field of strategic restraint. Therefore, I don’t think that here everything is rushing to it (nuclear confrontation), but we are ready for this.”

He asserted that Russia will achieve its objectives in Ukraine and expressed openness to negotiations, despite U.S. claims that Putin is not prepared for serious discussions on the issue.

The White House announced on Tuesday that the U.S. will provide an additional $300 million in military aid to Ukraine. This increase in support comes as a result of savings achieved in contracts with weapons manufacturers.