Washington| Western investors are raising the risk of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin using nuclear weapons, following powerful sanctions imposed on Russia that have smashed the rouble and wreaked havoc on the country’s financial system.

Billionaire investor and hedge fund manager Ray Dalio spoke of concerns earlier this week of Russia resorting to nuclear weapons, while a new analysis by BCA Research put the chance of them being used in the next 12 months at 10 per cent.