A former Nato secretary general has urged the EU to give a "strong reaction" towards Russian posturing and not let Vladimir Putin "get away with it".

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer's warning comes as a Russian taskforce is on a course to sail through the North Sea and English Channel.

Two Royal Navy destroyers have been sent to meet the Russian taskforce which is reportedly planning to take part in a final assault on Aleppo in Syria.