The Kremlin has denied on Wednesday afternoon that Vladimir Putin will officially “declare war” on Russia’s Victory Day on 9 May.

Last week the British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has warned that Putin could use Russia’s Victory Day on 9 May to formally declare war against Ukraine to then announce a mass mobilisation of the army’s reserves in Ukraine.

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Wallace told LBC Radio last week, “I think he will try to move from his ‘special operation,

“He’s been rolling the pitch, laying the ground for being able to say ‘look, this is now a war against Nazis, and what I need is more people.

“I need more Russian cannon fodder.’”

The Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “There is no chance of that. It’s nonsense.”

When pressed on the idea of a national mobilisation, he added: “It is not true. It is nonsense.”

On 9 May Russia marks Victory Day where they celebrate the Soviet Union’s victory from World War Two.

Ex-Nato chief Richard Sherriff said that Russia was more likely to double down on their approach to Ukraine.

Sherriff told BBC Radio 4, “The worst case is war with Russia. By gearing itself up for the worst case, it is most likely to deter Putin because ultimately Putin respects strength.”