Russia should consider a “demonstrative” nuclear explosion to warn the West about allowing their weapons to be fired across the border from Ukraine, advisors to the Kremlin said.
Dmitry Suslov, a member of the Moscow-based Council for Foreign and Defence Policy think tank, said a test detonation could cow the West, which is in the process of relaxing rules about the weapons it gives to Ukraine.
The think tank is influential in Kremlin circles and its ideas sometimes become government policy for the Kremlin.
The proposal was issued a day after Vladimir Putin warned the West that Nato members in Europe were playing with fire by relaxing its weapons rules.
The Russian president said it could trigger a global conflict, with Russia, which possesses the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, at the centre.
The US and Germany have so far refused to allow their weapons to be used inside Russia, while French President Emmanuel Macron followed the UK to shift his stance on Tuesday.
Nato leaders are due to meet later today to focus on efforts to hammer out a support package for Ukraine.
Follow the latest updates below