Vladimir Putin accused of 'rhetoric' after trying to blame Liz Truss for his own nuclear threat

Britain has accused Vladimir Putin of 'rhetoric designed to distract from the situation on the ground' as the invasion of Ukraine continues.

The Russian President was also accused of using a 'distraction technique' after he tried to blame Foreign Secretary Liz Truss for his own threat over nuclear weapons.

It came as under-siege Ukraine confirmed its President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has now applied to join the 27-nation European Union.

Ukraine, meanwhile, said this evening a first round of talks with Russia about ending the fighting has concluded - and that more talks could happen soon.

Downing Street slapped down the Kremlin for saying Putin put Russia's nuclear deterrent on a 'special regime of combat duty' only after statements from the Foreign Secretary, reports The Mirror.

According to the Interfax news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing: "I would not call the authors of these statements by name, although it was the British foreign minister."

He is said to have complained: "Statements were made by various representatives at various levels on possible altercations or even collisions and clashes between Nato and Russia.

"We believe that such statements are absolutely unacceptable."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official spokesman hit back, saying: "It remains the case that the rhetoric we're seeing from Putin's regime is designed to distract from the situation on the ground. That is very much our focus."

Boris Johnson will fly out to Poland and Estonia for crisis talks over the escalating conflict in Ukraine.

Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister would visit the region on Tuesday for meetings with allies and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

The Russian offensive in Ukraine has