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Topics: no-article-matching, Russia, Boris Johnson
Cameron Frew
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has issued a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin amid fears over a Ukrainian invasion.
Johnson said the UK is 'leading on creating a package of economic sanctions' against Russia and he plans to speak to international allies later today, January 24.
It also comes after the European Union threatened 'never-seen-before' sanctions if any attack on Ukraine takes place. Russia has denied any plans for military action, despite tens of thousands of troops amassing on the border.
'We also need to get a message that invading Ukraine, from a Russian perspective, is going to be a painful, violent and bloody business. I think it’s very important that people in Russia understand that this could be a new Chechnya,' Johnson said.
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Discussing how he'd previously visited Ukraine and knew the country's people, he added, 'My judgment is that they will fight.'
Johnson couldn't speak to whether any invasion was imminent, but said, 'I’ve got to tell you that I think the intelligence is pretty gloomy at this point. There is certainly a very, very large array of Russian forces and we have to take the necessary steps. I don’t think it’s by any means inevitable now, I think that sense can still prevail.'
Johnson went on to warn Putin that an invasion of Ukraine would be a 'disastrous step... we do think it prudent to make some changes now. The intelligence is very clear that there are 60 Russian battle groups on the borders of Ukraine, the plan for a lightning war that could take out Kyiv is one that everybody can see.'
The UK's Foreign Office has already started withdrawing staff from its embassy in Kyiv due to concerns over the threat from Russia, with the US also ordering families of diplomats to leave the country.
NATO has put its forces on standby, as well as sending additional ships and fighter jets to its deployments in eastern Europe, saying it's 'reinforcing the allied deterrence and defence as Russia continues its military build-up in and around Ukraine'.
'I welcome allies contributing additional forces to NATO. NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to protect and defend all allies, including by reinforcing the eastern part of the Alliance,' NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, as per Sky News.
'We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including through strengthening our collective defence.'
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