The “joke” reveals the true extent of the megalomaniac’s obsessive desire for power outside of his country.
Appearing on Russian TV, Mr Putin was quizzed by a nine-year-old boy who asked the president about the geographical location of Russia and its borders.
The child said that the Bering Strait was where the country ended as it divided Russia from America close to the Arctic circle.
But Mr Putin shot back: “The borders of Russia do not end.”
The strongman’s total disdain for boundaries will spark fear in the hearts of his enemies at a time when international tensions are close to breaking point over the Kremlin’s reluctance to adhere to international rules.
Russia has its tentacles in practically every country, including the Crimea which it invaded, the US, where it allegedly meddled in the 2016 elections and the UK where it allegedly killed a former Russian spy.
Mr Putin’s extraordinary response about Russia’s borders will cause concern among neighbouring countries who fear another invasion by the ever-powerful Russian military.
Mr Putin annexed the Ukranian peninsula of Crimea in 2014 and invaded the east of the country – sparking worldwide condemnation.
In the US, former FBI director Robert Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies for allegedly backing Donald Trump’s election campaign, maligning his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and engaging in other election interference.
Mr Putin reacted nonchalantly saying: “So what if they’re Russians?
“There are 146 million Russians. So what?… I don’t care. I couldn’t care less… They do not represent the interests of the Russian state.”
Mr Putin has caused widespread anger in Britain, where, the growing diplomatic scandal over the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Scribal and his daughter led Theresa May yesterday to announce the expulsion of 23 Russians.
The Russian diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers have been given a week to leave, in the largest mass expulsion since 31 were ordered out in 1985 following the defection of double agent Oleg Gordievsky.
There will also be a boycott of this summer’s World Cup by Government ministers and members of the royal family.
Mrs May added that Russian state assets will be frozen “wherever we have the evidence that they may be used to threaten the life or property of UK nationals or residents”.
Russia’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs branded Mrs May’s statement “an unprecedentedly crude provocation that undermines the foundations of a normal interstate dialogue between our countries”.
The Kremlin made it clear it is readying its response to the biggest expulsion of its embassy staff since the Cold War, and is expected to suspend British diplomats.
But as Mr Putin does exactly what he likes, the White House, France and Germany have banded together to condemn his actions.
In a joint statement from Mrs May, US leader Donald Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Emmanuel Macron said they stand shoulder to shoulder with the UK.
The statement said that there is ‘no plausible alternative explanation’ to Moscow being involved in the attempted murder of a former spy on UK soil.