Russian President Vladimir Putin took oath as Russian President for 5th term. Putin’s new mandate was marked by a protest from Western countries who boycotted the Kremlin ceremony. At 71, Putin dominates the national political landscape after he won a landslide victory in March earlier this year. The US said it did not consider Putin’s re-election free and fair amid prolonged Ukraine-Russia war. Putin begins his new mandate a day after he ordered tactical nuclear weapon drills to deter the West. Moscow on May 06 said it would practice deployment of tactical nuclear weapons after citing threats from France, Britain & US. Since Ukraine conflict began in 2020, Russia has said the US and its European allies are pushing the world to the brink of nuclear confrontation. In March, Putin warned and said direct conflict with US & NATO means world is “One step away from World War Three”. Meanwhile, after taking oath Putin said talks on strategic nuclear stability with the West were also possible, but only on equal terms. Russia and US are by far world`s biggest nuclear powers, holding more than 10,600 of world`s 12,100 nuclear warheads.