VLADIMIR Putin’s top crony has issued a chilling nuclear warning to Britain over cooked-up claims that the UK is plotting to arm Ukraine with nukes.

Shameless Russian spies made the sensational claims in a bid to justify on the day of the bloody war’s anniversary.

Iskander-M missileRussia’s top brass have threatened to nuke BritainCredit: East2West : Russian President Vladimir Putin conducts an exercise of Russia's strategic nuclear deterrence forces, in MoscowRussian President Vladimir Putin has been accused of sabotaging peace talksCredit: Reuters Russian invasion of UkraineUK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed to stand by Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes’Credit: PA Collage of maps and photos illustrating Russia's Oreshnik missile system threat.

In response, Moscow’s security chief Dmitry Medvedev raged: “The information about France and Britain’s intention to transfer nuclear technology to the Kyiv Nazi regime radically changes the situation…

“This is a direct transfer of nuclear weapons to a country at war.”

The former Russian president added: “There can be no doubt that, given such a development, Russia will be forced to use any nuclear weapons against targets in Ukraine that pose a threat to our country.

“And, if necessary, against supplier countries that become complicit in a nuclear conflict with Russia.”

Downing Street has vehemently denied the claims, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s official spokesman describing them as “a clear attempt by Vladimir Putin to distract from peace.”

Earlier today, Starmer vowed the UK will stand by Ukraine for “as long as it takes” in an address marking the fourth anniversary of the invasion.

He said: “This is not a remote conflict a long way away from the United Kingdom.

“It’s about our values of freedom, democracy and the right of a country to decide for itself what it does, which is about democracy and sovereignty.”

“And how and when this conflict ends is going to affect everybody in the United Kingdom for a very long time, which is why it is so important we make sure that peace is lasting.

“It is Putin who is standing in the way.”

Medvedev, modern-day Russia’s longest-serving prime minister, now serves as deputy head of the Kremlin’s security council and is one of its most outspoken voices.

He has been typically quick in latching onto Moscow‘s latest fib.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, headed by spymaster Sergey Naryshkin, alleged: “The British and French elites are not prepared to accept defeat.

“[They] realise that the developments in Ukraine leave no chance of achieving their much-desired victory over Russia at the hands of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

“Kyiv would be able to claim more favourable terms for ending the hostilities if it possessed a nuclear bomb, or at least a so-called ‘dirty bomb’.”

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Medvedev marks Defender of the Fatherland Day in MoscowTop Putin crony Dmitry Medvedev has consistently threatened nuclear actionCredit: Reuters Germany Munich Security ConferenceHe also accused French President Emmanuel Macron of being complicit in the trumped up schemeCredit: AP RS-24 Yars, a Russian MIRV-equipped thermonuclear armedThe Kremlin have rolled thermonuclear armed intercontinental ballistic missile through Moscow as a show of forceCredit: Getty

It was the same Russian spies who hopelessly failed to predict the ferocity of Ukraine’s resistance.

FSB spies told tyrant Putin that troops would be welcomed with flowers when the tanks rolled into Ukraine four years ago.

But instead they were met with Javelin and NLAW missiles and Russia has suffered an eye-watering 1.25million casualties.

And Putin’s bloodthirsty war machine is quickly running out of steam as more .

Russia’s spy agency also claimed that France’s TN75 warhead was under consideration and that Berlin had “wisely declined” to join the supposed scheme.

Kremlin mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov warned the alleged plot could derail peace talks, branding it a “flagrant violation” of international law and “extremely dangerous information”.

The nuclear smears come as Moscow is accused of and harden its negotiating stance.

Russian officials last month claimed that Ukraine .

The allegations were quickly dismissed by Western intelligence as nonsense, but were still used as a pretext for tougher talks.

Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Putin must be stopped .

From his headquarters in Kyiv, and on the eve of the war’s anniversary, the president argued that only intense military and economic pressure would end it.

Aftermath of Russian drone and missile strikes in KyivRussia have continued to mercilessly blitz Ukrainian citiesCredit: Reuters Aftermath of Russian drone and missile strikes in KyivFirefighters work at the site of a destroyed residential building in KyivCredit: Reuters