He said he will target the US itself and any host countries if there is any deployment of nukes in Europe.
During his annual address to parliament, Putin said Russia is not seeking confrontation but has made his position crystal clear.
It comes after the breakdown of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty between Washington and Moscow earlier this month.
Putin added he will not take the first step to deploy missiles because the agreement has collapsed but ensured he would retaliate – his toughest remarks yet hinting to a potential arms race.
He told Russia's elite: "It's their right to think how they want. But can they count?
"I'm sure they can. Let them count the speed and the range of the weapons systems we are developing.
"Let them count, and then after that take the decisions which could create additional threats for our country.
Key points of Putin's speech
- Russia threatened to target the US with its nukes if Trump deploys intermediate-range missile to Europe
- Putin adds European countries that agree to host American weapons will also be targetted
- He is deploying the new hypersonic Zircon missile that can fly at nine times the speed of sound
- Two nuclear weapons: the Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater drone have undergone successful tests
- Reinforced Russia is open for for arms control talks with the US
- Russia will not take the first step in deploying missiles and will not be the the first to initiate negotiations
- Hopes the EU will take steps to restore economic and political relations with Russia
- Praised economic growth citing examples of the increase in citizens' income and bringing inflation down
- Detailed plans to expand welfare by promising tax breaks, lower mortgage rates and housing subsidies for families with several children
- Announced the beginning of a railway link across the Crimean bridge to develop Crimea and Sevastopol
"And which, of course, would lead to reciprocal actions from Russia whose security will be reliably and unconditionally assured.
"In that case, we will be forced, and I want to underline this, forced to take both reciprocal and asymmetrical measures.
"Russia will be forced to create and deploy types of weapons which can be used not only in respect of those territories from which the direct threat to us originates, but also in respect of those territories where the centres of decision-making are located."
He added he is open to arms control talks with Washington and hopes to amend ties adding "we don't want confrontation, particularly with such a global power as the US".
However, Putin said he will not initiate such negotiations and has urged US officials to take into account the "range and speed of our prospective weapons".
Putin also touched on the economy, infrastructure and restoring relations with the EU during his parliamentary address.
RUSSIA'S LATEST WEAPONS
In the same state-of-the-nation speech today, Putin says Russia will deploy a new hypersonic Zircon missile in an effort to counter what he described as US hostility.
The missile can fly at nine times the speed of sound and has a range of 620 miles.
He added that other new weapons – the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone – have been undergoing tests successfully.
The US pulled out of the Cold War agreement after accusing Putin of breaking – something Moscow has strongly denied.
The INF treaty bans ground-launched missiles with a range of 310 miles to 3,420 miles and bans either side from stationing land-based missiles in Europe.
The INF was originally signed to stop the dangerous build-up of warheads in Europe, but fears have been renewed after a break down in talks between the US and Russia in Beijing.
Washington made the threat after accusing Russia of producing a missile with a 1,500-mile range – the Novator 9M729.
Russia claims the missile’s range is just 300 miles – which is within the range allowed by the INF – and has accused the US of using it as a pretext to leave the pact for its own military goals.
Russia insists that Washington’s claims are not backed up by evidence and that the treaty would remain by default if the US tries to withdraw.
The INF was signed in 1987 by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Both countries have six months to resurrect the treaty.
The INF Treaty eliminates land-based ballistic and cruise missiles, and their launchers, with ranges of 500-1,000 kilometres (310-620 miles) – known and short medium-range – and 1,000-5,500 kilometres (620-3,420 miles) – known as intermediate range.
The treaty does not cover air or sea launching missiles.
By May 1991, 2,692 missiles had been eliminated and 10 years of on-site verification inspections followed.
The immediate effect eliminated the US' Pershing II missiles and the Soveiet Union's SS-20s – which was a key event in ending the Cold War.
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