Russia threatens military deployment to Cuba and Venezuela as Nato talks falter

US says drumbeat of war is sounding loud' as talks with Russia over Ukraine head towards dead end

Russia has refused to rule out a military deployment to Cuba and Venezuela if talks with the west on European security and Ukraine fail to go its way, while warning the latest discussions with Nato were hitting a dead end.

In an apparent attempt to up the ante with the Biden administration, Sergei Ryabkov, who led Russia's delegation in a meeting with the US on Monday, told Russian television he could neither confirm nor exclude sending military assets to Cuba and Venezuela if talks fail. Asked about these steps, he said it all depends on the actions by our US counterparts".