Britain is reportedly set to hold urgent talks with Nato allies after Vladimir Putin vowed to launch more hypersonic missiles into Ukraine following a series of strikes this week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a “serious” response from the West after Russia deployed its new Oreshnik weaponry on the city of Dnipro on Thursday.
Dramatic footage captured the moments warheads rained down the city, causing widespread damage.
Mr Putin warned on Friday that the military would continue testing its new hypersonic missiles, citing Ukraine’s recent use of US ballistic missiles and British cruise missiles in strikes on Russian territory.
He said: “We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities.”
Today, more details have been revealed about the new missile that Russia used to strike Dnipro. These details will be shared with international journalists and media because the world must know the truth. It must understand that the only party that does not want peace is Russia.… pic.twitter.com/dmuYRF6G2F
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 22, 2024
Mr Putin added: "No one in the world has such weapons.
"Sooner or later other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development."
The UK has already recommitted to “stand by Ukraine” and is now set to take part in a meeting alongside fellow Nato members to plan the next steps.
Sky News reports that Britain will hold emergency talks with Nato on Tuesday.
Defence procurement minister Maria Eagle said: “We’ve heard this kind of irresponsible rhetoric from him (Putin) before.
“He’s trying to stop nations supporting Ukraine, whilst he doesn’t seem to mind that much about the support he’s getting from North Korea and other nations.
“We can’t allow ourselves to be put off from supporting Ukraine, and we won’t be.”
Failing to stand up to Russian aggression would come at a “serious cost” for Europe, she said.
The sit-down is set to follow Nato secretary Mark Rutte’s meeting US president elect Donald Trump on Friday at Palm Beach.
"They discussed the range of global security issues facing the Alliance," the spokesperson, Farah Dakhlallah, said in a brief statement - Reuters has reported.
On Friday, Nato did not respond to requests for comment on Dutch media reports that Rutte - a former prime minister of the Netherlands - had flown to Florida on a Dutch government plane to meet Mr Trump.
The 47th president is expected to be sworn in from January and has been busy selecting his top team, which includes Pete Hegseth as secretary of defence.
