While the West holds back from applying new sanctions against Russia to see if the Ukrainian ceasefire sticks, President Vladimir Putin has rattled a few sabres in Moscow.

He has personally taken command of Russia’s defence industries, and is calling for new weapons and a modernised nuclear arsenal.

“The crisis in Ukraine, which was, in fact, engineered and developed by some of our Western partners, is now being used for the resuscitation of the NATO military bloc. But all this of course should be and will be taken into account in our decision-making about the safety of our country,” he told his ministers.

On Thursday Russian and US officials meet in Moscow to discuss the 1987 INF nuclear treaty.

Putin says he doubts it serves Russia’s interests, and on Wednesday he tested a new Bulava intercontinental missile.

Each side has accused the other of violating the terms of the document.