Vladimir Putin calls secret meeting tonight after threatening UK with hypersonic missile

Higher ups in the Kremlin are set to attend a secret meeting tonight called by Vladimir Putin at the end of a week in which Russia has attacked Ukraine with a new missile

A secret meeting has been called for tonight by Vladimir Putin as tensions between Russia and the West continue to rise.

The Kremlin dropped its deadly new Oreshnik hypersonic missile on Dnipro yesterday, as Ukraine continues to brace for further attacks. With Russia moving on the offensive, it was revealed on the country’s Telegram channel a meeting has been called for tonight amid fears of a new war which could drag the world closer to the end.

It is unknown what is on tonight’s agenda, with world leaders hoping for the best - but bracing for the worst. The Telegram channel added there are yet to be any talks between Russia and the US as the situation continues to unravel.

The despot President threatened to strike back after British-made Storm Shadow missiles were fired into Russian territory on Wednesday. It comes as Keir Starmer insisted the UK "is not at war" with Russia , as the country claimed the UK is now “directly involved” in the war with Ukraine .

Asked about Putin's comments, the PM told BBC Radio Bristol: "No, we're not at war. But Ukraine certainly is, because Ukraine has been invaded by Russia, and that war has now been going on for just over 1,000 days.

"That's a thousand days of aggression from Russia and a thousand days of sacrifice for Ukraine. And that is why we've said consistently that we stand by Ukraine. We cannot allow Putin to win this war."

He dismissed Putin's "irresponsible rhetoric" and called for him to back down, stating: "This war could end today if Putin stopped being the aggressor."

In a TV address on Thursday, Putin warned western allies who supplied long-range missiles to Ukraine that their military bases could be targeted with Oreshnik missiles. The Russian leader said: “We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities.

“And in case of escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond resolutely in a mirror way.” Putin said Russia would issue advance warnings before strikes on other countries to allow civilians to evacuate to safety.

And Russia's UK ambassador Andrei Kelin told Sky News: "Absolutely, Britain and UK is now directly involved in this war, because this firing cannot happen without NATO staff, British staff as well."