Boris Johnson Warns World Is “On The Edge Of A Precipice” Over Fears Russia Will Invade Ukraine
3 min read
The Prime Minister said “we are on the edge of a precipice” as the "evidence is pretty clear" that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine.
But Boris Johnson called for more dialogue between Russia and the West, and told Vladimir Putin there is still time to “step back” and avoid a "disastrous" situation.
Speaking on a trip to Scotland, Johnson said Russian troops were continuing to amass on the Ukrainian border, and that there are "all sorts of other signs that show that there are serious preparations" going on to make an incursion.
"This is a very, very dangerous, difficult situation, we are on the edge of a precipice but there is still time for President Putin to step back,” Johnson said.
He also said he agreed with his defence secretary Ben Wallace, who has claimed there was a "whiff of Munich" about the situation, and appeasement in actions by other nations towards Moscow so far.
"I think the defence secretary is absolutely right to say it's very important that we've got to be strong, and we've got to be resolute and we've got to be united,” the Prime Minister told broadcasters.
He added: "I think it is very important that we all stand together and that we show a united front, particularly when it comes to economic sanctions.
"The UK has been in the lead in bringing our allies together so that there's a tough package of sanctions.
"It's very, very important that the West should stand united, particularly that Nato has done it. It's been pretty encouraging to see the way countries have pulled together."
Later today foreign secretary Liz Truss will chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee to discuss the consular response to the Ukraine situation, Downing Street confirmed.
Johnson is to receive a security briefing from his intelligence chiefs this afternoon, and will then chair a full meeting of Cobra on Tuesday to consider the UK's wider response to the crisis.
His official spokesperson said the prime minister will cut short a trip to Cumbria in light of the situation in Ukraine, returning to Number 10 this evening instead of staying overnight in the region.
Johnson also said "the world needs to learn the lesson of 2014”, when not enough was done to move away from Russian energy following Putin’s annexation of Crimea.
“What I think all European countries need to do now is get Nord Stream out of the bloodstream,” he said, in reference to the pipeline which brings gas west from Russia across the Baltic Sea.
"Yank out that that hypodermic drip feed of Russian hydrocarbons that is keeping so many European economies going.”
The Prime Minister said the UK’s allies on the continent must find alternative sources of energy and then “get ready to impose some very, very severe economic consequences on Russia”.
Johnson said he will “be doing everything I can to help the diplomatic process” and avoid war, and will be speaking to US President Joe Biden “very soon”.
He also said Ukraine's future membership of Nato could not be "bargained away" in the talks with Russia.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for tougher sanctions for Moscow over the current crisis.
"I'd like that threat to be very real because let's see this for what it is. It's Russian aggression,” he said on a visit to Sunderland.
"The government go further on sanctions.”
He said he was supporting the government’s actions because Russia “wants to see division in the United Kingdom, and we are not going to divide”.
Starmer also said it was “very important that Parliament is recalled” from its February half-term recess this week if Russia invades Ukraine.
"I'm sure the government would do that anyway, because we must have a swift and strong response, a united response, from the United Kingdom and a united response with our allies,” he added.
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