Poland asks for US to SHARE its nuclear weapons and allow the country to host missile sites - in attempt to deter Vladimir Putin from atomic warfare amid escalating tensions over Ukraine war

• Poland has symbolically requested to share US nuclear weapons in a bid to deter Putin from launching their        first nuclear attack in more than 70 years 
• Polish president Andrzej Duda does not want ownership of the nuclear weapons but has suggested the               country will strengthen its security over time
• The White House says they are not aware of any such request at this time while experts say moving                    weapons close to Russia would be counterproductive
• The request comes after growing fears of nuclear warfare, Putin hinting at escalating forces to stave off                defeat for Russia's invading army in Ukraine

Amid growing fears that Russia could resort to nuclear warfare in Ukraine, Poland has requested to share US atomic weapons.

White House officials told The Guardian that they were 'not aware of the issue being raised' while experts have widely suggested that the gesture was purely symbolic.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) largest member from the former Warsaw Pact, has been the most vocal in bolstering the alliance's eastern flank.

'The problem, first of all, is that we don't have nuclear weapons,' Polish president Andrzej Duda said in an interview with the Gazeta Polska newspaper.

'There is always a potential opportunity to participate in nuclear sharing.

'We have spoken with American leaders about whether the United States is considering such a possibility. The issue is open.'

Duda emphasized that while he would like to host the weapons he did not want to take ownership over them.

'This would not be a nuclear weapon under the control of Poland. Participation in nuclear sharing does not imply having your own nuclear weapon,' he said.

He added that it is his belief that Poland's long-term goal would be to 'strengthen its security.'

The Polish president's announcement is the latest example of nuclear signaling as the US and its allies seek to deter Vladimir Putin from launching the first nuclear attack in more than 70 years. 

Russian rule over more than 15 percent of Ukraine - the biggest annexation in Europe since World War II - has been roundly rejected as illegal.

The United States, Britain, Australia and Canada have announced sanctions but they seem to be doing little to persuade Putin.