'STAND STRONG AGAINST RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR THREAT'

BRITAIN must "stand firm" in the face of nuclear threats by Russia designed to destroy support for Ukraine.

- Marco Giannangeli, David Williamson

Vladimir Putin's decision to update his nuclear strategy, making it easier for him to push the button and trigger World War III, has been calculated to make his opponents cower, says a former minister. "Putin is using threats to try to frighten us into inaction. It has worked for too long," said former Security minister Tom Tugendhat. "But Ukraine's counter-strike into Kursk has proven that his red lines are fiction. We need the courage to stand with them and give them the ability to fight back." The election of Donald Trump as the next US President has split Western leaders between those who want to roll back support and those who want to help Ukraine gain every advantage to boost its position before "inevitable" peace negotiations next year.

After thousands of North Korean soldiers joined Russian forces on the front lines in Ukraine, current US President Joe Biden decided to allow Kyiv to fire its long-range ATACMS missiles deep into Russia.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer followed suit and allowed the firing of British Storm Shadow missiles, which are ideal for penetrating hardened bunkers, into Russia.

This prompted Putin to declare Moscow would be entitled to launch nuclear weapons if attacked by a non-nuclear country, such as Ukraine, that is supported by a nuclear state, such as the US or UK.

Andrei Kelin, Russia's ambassador to the UK, declared Britain was "now directly involved" in the war.

While Putin has a raft of sophisticated conventional weapons, including hypersonic missiles, at his fingertips, regional experts say it is unlikely he will press the nuclear button.