'Putin would lose to Nato.. and risk is he then goes nuclear'

Ex-chiefs' fears if Ukraine war escalates

- LIZZY BUCHAN

THE former head of the Navy has warned that the Russia-Ukraine war risks spiralling into a nuclear confrontation with Nato.

Admiral Lord West, the former First Sea Lord, issued the dire warning as he said Britain was already effectively at war with Moscow.

He pointed to “grey zone warfare” - hostile acts that fall outside traditional armed conflict - such as Russian sabotage of undersea cables and drone incursions along Nato’ eastern flank.

Lord West told the Lord Speaker's Corner podcast: “It's quite difficult to see how one’s going to get out of this (conflict) because one doesn't want a full war between Nato and Russia.