A leading Russian state TV presenter has warned pivotal American "decision-making centers" would be wiped out in a nuclear strike if U.S. troops were to be deployed to Ukraine.

       Russia-1 anchor Dmitry Kiselyov, a vocal supporter of Vladimir Putin and his ongoing war efforts in Ukraine, issued the horrifying threat as he warned Moscow is ready to target NATO members should they also agree to send troops to the Eastern European nation.

       In a clip translated by BBC Monitoring reporter Francis Scarr, Kiselyov said the U.S. would automatically face the threat of a nuclear attack as would France and the United Kingdom.

       The Russian propagandist said: "If NATO countries deploy their forces to Ukraine in order to deal strategic defeat to Russia then that very moment will come of which Putin has spoken.

       "'Why do we need a world if Russia's not in it?' In that case, we'll send everything flying everywhere!

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       "Sarmat, Yars and Avangard missiles. America's decision-making centers and launch sites on land and sea are already in our crosshairs."

       Kislyov added: "France, as a nuclear power, will have to be disarmed in an instant. The British Isles will simply go underwater.

       "We have the technologies for this and we've spoken about them before. But it would be better not to take things that far."

       Russia's top echelons have repeatedly floated the idea that the ongoing war in Ukraine could develop into a nuclear conflict should the U.S. and its NATO allies directly intervene.

       During his annual State of the Nation speech in February, Putin reiterated that Russia's "strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness."

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       He said Moscow wanted to avoid a nuclear war but said the Kremlin was ready to deploy nuclear weapons to protect its "territorial integrity."

       The U.S. has been providing Ukraine with military equipment as well as training as part of multiple aid packages passed in Congress since the start of the invasion in February 2022.

       Last week, American lawmakers passed a new $61bn package and over the weekend unveiled a six billion dollars long-term military support package.

       The U.S. also reinforced its military presence alongside allies its allies in Europe and Washington has been in talks with Warsaw to move part of its nuclear arsenal to Poland.

       Joe Biden has, however, not committed to sending troops to Ukraine directly – a move President Emmanuel Macron said was on the table for France and other NATO allies.

       Macron insisted that "we cannot exclude options" as "the security of Europe and the security of the French people is at stake here."