INTERNATIONAL: Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to crippling sanctions imposed by the West after he ordered the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to crippling economic sanctions by putting Russian nuclear forces on high alert.

Countries across the world have hit Russia with a raft of measures after Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday.

Mr. Putin hasreacted to the sanctions by what has been described as a chilling “escalation”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the West an "Empire of Lies" as he discussed the economy with top officials on Monday ,February 28, following the imposition of sweeping sanctions against Moscow, the Kremlin has said.

"Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and I discussed this topic, naturally bearing in mind the sanctions that the so-called Western community ,as I called it in my speech, the 'empire of lies' - is now trying to implement against our country."

“Western countries aren’t only taking unfriendly economic actions against our country, but leaders of major NATO countries are making aggressive statements about our country,” Mr Putin has said.

“So I order to move Russia’s deterrence forces to a special regime of duty.”

He called the sanctions “illegal” as he ordered the defence mininster and chief of the general staff to put the Russian army on high combat alert.

The order means Russia’s nuclear weapons will be prepared for increased readiness to launch.

In another worrying sign of increased tensions in the region, Belarus on Monday morning before the scheduled peace talks has approved a new constitution that will allow the country to host Russian nuclear weapons.