Vladimir Putin has vowed to "finish off" Ukraine and mocked the size of the British army after a "reassurance force" was announced.

Putin made the remarks while aboard a new nuclear submarine during a visit to an Arctic naval base on Thursday.

He claimed Russian forces have the “strategic initiative” along the Ukrainian front line and had reason to believe his army would “finish them off”.

He also reaffirmed his claim that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal.