Putin is the primary decision-maker on the use of Russia's nuclear arsenal. The doctrine said any attack by a non-nuclear power supported by a nuclear power would be considered a joint attack, and that any attack by one member of a military bloc would be considered an attack by the entire alliance, it said.

Russia has captured more territory in eastern Ukraine, with Nato set to hold emergency talks next week amid warnings that Russia will increase the production of a new, hypersonic ballistic missile. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces have captured the settlement of Novodmytrivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region,