Putin puts nuclear deterrent forces on alert as tensions mount with the West

Vladimir Putin has put Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces on high alert amid tensions with the West over the invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking at a meeting with his top officials on Sunday, Putin said that leading Nato powers had made “aggressive statements” about Russia following a raft of sanctions against the state.

Putin ordered the Russian defence minister and the chief of the military’s General Staff to put the nuclear deterrent forces in a “special regime of combat duty, which means Russia’s nuclear weapons will be prepared for increased readiness to launch.

Speaking at a meeting with his top officials, Putin said: “Western countries aren’t only taking unfriendly actions against our country in the economic sphere, but top officials from leading Nato.”

His remarks came as Russia’s partial removal from the Swift financial messaging system took place, while according to Bloomberg, the European Union is also discussing sanctions for some of Russia’s wealthiest businessmen.

The list includes metals tycoon Alisher Usmanov, Alfa Group owners Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven, plus Alexei Mordashov, who controls a major steel company.

Mr Putin’s nuclear move was condemned by the White House, with spokeswoman Jen Psaki, who claimed the Russian President is “manufacturing threats that don’t exist in order to justify further aggression”.

US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: “President Putin is continuing to escalate this war in a manner that is totally unacceptable.”

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss had earlier warned any use by Russia of its tactical battlefield nuclear weapons against Ukrainian forces would represent an “extremely serious escalation” of the conflict.

While the Mr Putin issued a veiled nuclear threat, peace talks began on Sunday, although Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he want would not give up any land.

Following a night of further assaults, the EU revealed it would help to finance the delivery of weapons to Ukraine as it battles Russia.

The deal is worth up to €450million (£376million) in lethal aid, while the bloc also agreed to offer Ukrainian refugees asylum for up three years.

Due to the conflict, there are reports as many as 200,000 refugees have already fled the country.

Germany also announced that it would increase its defence spending by more than two per cent of its economic output.

Boris Johnson also gave a speech at a Ukrainian church where he insisted that the Russian President will eventually fail.

Russian troops have also launched a wave of attacks on airfields and fuel facilities elsewhere in the country.

Kyiv, was eerily quiet on Sunday after huge explosions lit up the morning sky and authorities reported blasts at one of the airports.

Terrified residents hunkered down in homes, underground garages and subway stations in anticipation of a full-scale Russian assault.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced he had agreed to talks with a Russian delegation on the Ukraine-Belarus border.

The Ukrainian leader had earlier rejected an offer of talks in Belarus, saying the Russian ally had been a launchpad for the invasion of his country.