WARNING: Putin's ex-aide says nuclear war in Europe imminent as Russia relations collapse

NUCLEAR war in Europe is highly likely as tensions rise between NATO and Russia, a former Russian foreign minister warns.

THREAT: Nuclear war could break out any time, says a former Russian diplomat

Igor Ivanov, ex-foreign minister to current President Vladimir Putin, says the risk of World War 3 in Europe is higher than at any time since the 1980s when the Cold War was at its peak.

Only this January, some of the world's top boffins kept the dreaded "Doomsday Clock” positioned at three minutes to midnight – its closest to armageddon in 20 years.

Looming war between the West and other nuclear powers such as Russia and China was a chief reason.

And Mr Ivanov agrees that this horrific scenario is possible.

FEAR: Igor Ivanov said the threat of nuclear winter in Europe is now possible

Now head of a Russian Government think-tank, he said: "The risk of confrontation with the use of nuclear weapons in Europe is higher than in the 1980s."

This week Putin warned that the Russian intervention in Syria allowed it to practice war with his enemies far better than any war game.

Although Russia and the US have fewer nukes than the Cold War they still have 7,000 and if unleashed they would wipe out most of humanity.

Mr Ivanoc said: "We have less nuclear warheads, but the risk of them being used is growing."

NIGHTMARE: Europe would take years to recover

NATO’s secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has warned Russia about bullying neighbours with nuclear weapons threats.

But Mr Ivanov blamed a missile defence shield being set up by the United States in Europe for raising the stakes.

This is because Putin has now instructed his nuclear war weapons makers to get round it.

The shield is based in Poland due to become operational in 2018.

WAR: Russian soldiers with a nuclear missile

This is particularly sensitive for the Kremlin because it brings US capabilities close to Russian borders.

The US and NATO say the shield is designed to protect Europe against Iranian ballistic missiles and is neither targeted at Russia nor capable of downing its missiles.

But the Kremlin is not convinced.