Cabinet ministers secretly agreed that Britain should use its security dominance during Brexit talks after identifying EU fears over Vladimir Putin, the Telegraph can reveal.

Senior Tories said there was “panic” from EU leaders about the impact the UK’s exit would have on security in the face of "increased Russian aggression".

Leaked minutes of a Brexit cabinet committee meeting on March 7 show ministers identified the UK’s “very strong hand” on defence as a key advantage in negotiations.

Those present said security would be a “defining” issue for the EU and that Britain should not “underplay” its hand as it seeks to secure a favourable free trade deal.

Michael Fallon, David Davis, Philip Hammond and Boris Johnson are all understood to have spoken up about the importance of British security to the EU ahead of talks.