Putin 'to hold emergency meeting' amid fears he'll put Russia on 'total war footing'
 

10/19
Vladimir Putin has held an emergency meeting in Moscow today, as urgent talks are carried out thousands of miles away in Washington.


The news comes amid rising fears over the Kremlin potentially deploying tactical nukes in the Black Sea.

Prior to Putin’s meeting today, sources warned he may discussing put the country on ‘total war footing’.

There had been widespread speculation of Russian borders closing to military age men, and possibly others.

Shortly after midday, the Kremlin leader announced to Russia that martial law was to be introduced in four regions of Ukraine illegally annexed.
he decree covers Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south-east of the country which stretches some 40,000 square miles.

In a televised address to national security officials, Putin said: ‘Now we need to formalize this regime within the framework of Russian legislation.

‘Therefore, I signed a decree on the introduction of martial law in these four subjects of the Russian Federation.’

Today’s meeting was described as a ‘remote’ session, sparking speculation that Putin could be at a secret bunker as he prepares to impose further wartime controls on Russians.


Meanwhile in Washington, urgent talks on ‘security concerns’ were held between the US and the UK today.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace pulled out of a planned appearance in the Commons to rush to America late last night.

A security source told The Sun the nuclear threat from Russia ‘has increased recently’.

But others, such as Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, have calmed for calm