Minister Warns Russia Invading Ukraine Could Be "Very Imminent Indeed"
2 min read
A defence minister has warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could be "very imminent indeed" as Boris Johnson prepares to hold more urgent talks with world leaders this week.
Armed Forces Minister James Heappey on Monday said the continued build up of Russian forces at the Ukrainian border, which is now thought to total 130,000 troops, made him fear that it was not a "play" by Vladimir Putin to strengthen Moscow's hand but the sign of an invasion happening very soon.
"I hope that this is just Putin amassing forces for the purpsoes of diplomatic leverage and certainly nobody in the West wants to unnecessarily cause alarm," the minister told Sky News.
"But on the same token, we have responsibility both to Ukraine as an ally and our citizens in Ukraine to be clear on what we know.
"My nervousness is if this was indeed a play by Putin to get a seat at the negotiating table, he had that when he had 50,000 troops on the border. But he's kept on building them up".
He added: "My fear is it is now very imminent indeed".
A Downing Street spokesperson on Sunday night warned that the crisis at Ukraine's border with Russia had "reached a critical juncture" as the Prime Minister prepares to make another visit to Europe later this week.
"All the information we have suggests Russia could be a planning an invasion of Ukraine at any moment. This would have disastrous consequences for both Ukraine and Russia," they said.
However, they added there was "still a window of opportunity for de-escalation and diplomacy" and that the "Prime Minister will continue to work tirelessly alongside our allies to get Russia to step back from the brink".
As well as continuing conversations with major leaders like US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and leaders of EU countries, Johnson is keen to strengthen the western backing of Ukraine by further involving Nordic and Baltic countries, the spokesperson said.
In addition to the Prime Minister visiting Europe, Ben Wallace, the Secretary of State for Defence, is due to attend a meeting of NATO counterparts in Brussels on Thursday.
The government is expected to announce further economic and defensive support for Ukraine in the coming days, having already threatened to impose heavy sanctions on Russia if Putin goes ahead with an invasion.
On Friday, the Foreign Office urged all British nationals to leave Ukraine as soon as possible in a indication of the growing seriousness of the situation in eastern Europe.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited President Biden to visit the country, saying his presence would serve as a "powerful signal and contribute to de-escalation".
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