Given Putin's miscalculations vis a vis Western reactions to the Crimean annexation and subsequent invasion of Ukraine, he's probably getting his arse kicked for delivering a duff briefing.
Hence he's really keen to gauge Western appetite for conflict with Russia. Strange he should try and do this on a forum populated by so many who joined up and served at the height of the Cold War.
Does he really think we would shirk an unpleasant task?