Putin warns would-be aggressors that Russia will 'knock their teeth out'

The Russian president says the development of country's military is the "guarantee" behind the tough talk.
Putin at his annual press conference
By Nicholas Sherman

Russian President Vladimir Putin is threatened foreign adversaries, saying Russia will "knock their teeth out" if they attempt to invade or conquer the country.

"Everyone wants to bite us or bite something off of us. But those who would like to do so should know that we would knock their teeth out so that they couldn’t bite," Putin said Thursday, according to the Associated Press.  "The development of our military is the guarantee of that."

Putin alleged that Western nations have been trying to contain Russia's power for centuries citing Czar Alexander III, who ruled Russia in the late 19th century.

"No matter what we do, no matter how we try to satisfy the appetites of those who are trying to contain us, the containment will continue because many of our opponents just don’t want such a country as Russia," Putin said.

Putin made his comments in a conference call with Russian officials, speaking on the nation's attempts to upgrade its military and weapons.

He also touted Russia's new Poseidon atomic-powered underwater drone, which is armed with a nuclear warhead designed to detonate underwater to generate tsunami waves near an enemy's coast. However, tests of the weapon are ongoing.