THE Nato military alliance is exploring the possibility of pre-emptive strikes against Russia in response to alleged aggressive actions by Moscow, according to one of its leading admirals.

In an interview in today’s Financial Times, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone said the decision to go with the option was being complicated by legal obstacles.

Adm Dragone said the military alliance is considering acting pre-emptively against Russia rather than solely reacting.

He insisted that it was possible for Nato to frame such attacks as being defensive measures.

Russian ambassador to Belgium Denis Gonchar said on Sunday that Nato, “by intimidating its population with the Kremlin’s non-existent plans to attack the alliance countries,” had begun “preparing for a major war with Russia.”

This comes days after it was reported that Germany had developed a plan for waging war with Russia.

Last Friday, the Daily Mail reported that Germany’s classified 1,200-page plan would mean the deployment of some 800,000 troops to Europe’s front lines with Russia.

The plan claims without evidence, and despite repeated Russian denials that Russia was planning to attack Nato territory “before 2029.”

Vladimir Putin told a press conference on Thursday that Russia has no intention of attacking Europe and dismissed the suggestion that Moscow aims to push beyond Ukraine as “ridiculous.”