As Europe's leaders agonise over what to do about Russian aggression in Georgia, Vladimir Putin was busy showing the world that he's not a man to be messed with - not even by a tiger.

The Kremlin strongman, widely seen as the driving force behind the invasion of Georgia, shot the big cat with a tranquilliser, apparently saving the lives of a group of TV journalists.

The drama in his country's remote far east came as Gordon Brown declared that measures need to be taken to prevent further 'Russian aggression'.

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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin holds the tranquiliser gun

He was speaking on the eve of an emergency Brussels summit over the Georgia crisis.

European disapproval seemed far from Mr Putin's mind as he strode through the Siberian forest in his combat fatigues carrying a tranquiliser gun to arrive in the nick of time.

Accounts from Moscow suggested that ex-president Putin, now Russia's prime minister, saved the TV journalists after a tigress escaped from a harness. What is more likely is that the crew, who were standing 15ft away, were in place to capture the heroic shot.

Putin holds the five-year-old tiger's head as scientists attach a satellite tracker during a visit to the Ussuriyskiy forest reserve of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the far east of Siberia

Mr Putin had flown to the spot by helicopter, before transferring to a 4x4 and finishing the journey on foot - arriving at the exact moment the animal broke free.

'He immediately fired from a special gun which scientists use to immobilise animals, and hit the tigress in its shoulder blade,' according to one reporter. 'The tigress was immediately sedated.'

Mr Putin was visiting scientists in the Ussuriyskiy reserve which harbours rare Amur tigers. After putting the tigress to sleep, he helped attach a tracking collar.

The stunt was clearly designed to enhance Mr Putin's macho image. Last year he was filmed fishing bare-chested in Siberia.

Putin, assisted by scientist Vyacheslav Razhanov, fixes the transmitter

Shortly after facing down the biggest of big cats he was questioned about Western criticism of Russian action in Georgia. He insisted: 'Whatever they might say there - right is on our side.'

Mr Brown will today urge EU leaders to embark on a root and branch review of relations with the Kremlin. In a 'frank' phone call this weekend, he warned Russian president Dmitry Medvedev to expect a ' determined' response.

The Russian prime minister's macho display came as Gordon Brown said today that measures need to be taken to prevent further 'Russian aggression'

However, tough action such as sanctions could be hampered by splits within the EU. Britain, Poland, Sweden and the Baltic states want a harder line than France and Germany.

Mr Brown hinted that Russia may face further international isolation with curbs on its involvement with the world's richest nations and its links with Nato.

Brown will meet with European leaders tomorrow in Brussels - but there are fears Russia could 'turn the lights out' on Europe if angered by the EU

There are fears that Moscow could restrict oil and gas supplies to Europe. In the Observer newspaper, Mr Brown promised urgent action to prevent Britain 'sleepwalking into an energy dependence on less stable or reliable partners'.

That could include alternative suppliers of gas and oil and fast-tracking new nuclear plants and wind and wave farms.

The crisis began on August 7 when Georgia tried to regain control of disputed South Ossetia. Russia counter-attacked and still has troops in Georgia.