Vladimir Putin has put Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert after comments by UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and others, the Kremlin has said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said unacceptable remarks were made about possible clashes between Nato and Moscow over Russia’s attack on Ukraine. As at the time of filing this report, it is unclear precisely which comments by Truss, Russia objects to.

Fighting has continued on the fifth day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, despite talks aimed at securing a ceasefire. Missile strikes killed dozens of civilians in the country’s second city, Kharkiv, while air raid sirens sounded again in the capital, Kyiv. There were reports of fierce shelling in the northern city of Chernihiv.

Russia is attacking Ukraine on several fronts, but its advance has been slowed by Ukrainian resistance. All three cities remain under Ukrainian control. Away from the battlefields, economic and diplomatic moves have continued. President Vladimir Putin has banned Russians from moving money abroad as he tries to halt a plunge in the value of the rouble following the imposition of sanctions. Meanwhile, on the northern border with Belarus, Ukrainian and Russian officials ended their first round of talks.