Russian President Vladimir Putin "could use nuclear weapons in Ukraine" one top Conservative MP has warned.

Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Commons Defence Select Committee has urged the Government to start rolling out sanctions "every day" to combat Russian aggression in the country.

The former veteran also said that the worst-case scenario would be low yield nuclear weapons being used in the conflict.

Putin has already boasted of the "cutting-edge weapons" Russia has to hand in the conflict with Ukraine.

Before the invasion, he said in a TV address: "As for military affairs, even after the dissolution of the USSR and losing a considerable part of its capabilities, today’s Russia remains one of the most powerful nuclear states.

“Moreover, it has a certain advantage in several cutting-edge weapons. In this context, there should be no doubt for anyone that any potential aggressor will face defeat and ominous consequences should it directly attack our country."

Mr Ellwood told the BBC: "If I have a concern I would not put it beyond Putin to stoop to radical tactics to secure victory. He can't fail and the stakes are very very high indeed.

"We need to continue to support Ukraine not just with hard power but with humanitarian aid as well.

"We also put pressure on Russia. I don't think a day should go by when a new initiative isn’t announced.

"Today we've rolled out limits on Swift. Tomorrow all of Europe should send home Russia ambassadors back to Moscow.

"Let's invite Sweden and Finland to join Nato.

"For months we’ve been playing catch up. We must now start to control the agenda."

When pressed on what type of weapons he was referring to, Mr Ellwood added: "We've seen what he's done in Syria for example, he can certainly use other weapons systems which haven't been tested or that we're used to."

Mr Ellwood listed chemical weapons and said the worst-case scenario would be low yield nuclear weapons as well.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin says a Russian delegation has arrived in the Belarusian city of Homel for talks with Ukrainian officials.

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Russia appears to be looking to hold peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy following Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering an invasion on Thursday.

The leader of Ukraine has said his country is ready for peace talks with Russia, but will not conduct these in Belarus, which was an invasion staging ground.

Ukrainian forces are believed to have held off Russian troops advancing on the capital of Kyiv as Russian forces attacked oil and gas facilities in Ukraine overnight, causing huge explosions.

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