NATO countries could face a direct confrontation with Vladimir Putin within “two years,” according to a new report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The warning comes as the Russian president opted not to attend peace talks in Turkey with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Military experts have warned the Russian president's war-machine could be fully rebuilt to strength and made ready to attack NATO neighbours by 2027 if a peace deal is struck in Ukraine

There is no specific intelligence at present that suggests Russia intends to attack NATO. But intentions are fluid. In his public speeches, Vladimir Putin has justified his war to conquer Ukraine in several ways: the need to defend Russian-speakers in Donbas;