Russia would be quickly defeated in any conventional war with teh UK and Nato, despite Vladimir Putin’s claim that Moscow is “ready right now” for a wider conflict in Europe, diplomatic and intelligence sources have said.

At the same time, senior officials warn Russia remains a dangerous adversary willing to use any means necessary to destablise its rivals.

In Moscow on Monday, shortly before he sat down for five hours of inconclusive Ukraine peace talks with Donald Trump’s envoys, Putin warmed to one of his favourite themes – that it is Europe, not the Kremlin, which has “no peace agenda” for the continent.

He told the Russian media: “We’re not going to war with Europe; I’ve said that a hundred times. But if Europe suddenly wants to fight us and starts, we’re ready right now.” Such w

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