PM'S DEFIANT MESSAGE TO

Troops, jets and warships to be sent to Ukraine border as Boris warns aggressors Russia that we will stand by Nato

- Marco Giannangeli, David Maddox and David Williamson

BORIS JOHNSON has ordered a major military build-up in eastern Europe as he warns Vladimir Putin that Britain and her allies will not tolerate Russian threats.

In a move designed “to send a clear message” to President Putin ahead of a meeting between the two leaders this week, the Prime Minister confirmed the significant deployment of troops, gunships, missile systems and vessels to Estonia and Poland.

Britain already has a permanent military force in the region as part of Nato's Enhanced Forward Presence. The new build-up will "send an important signal to Russia that the UK has real skin in the game”.

Russian battle groups - including 130,000 troops - are massed on Ukraine's border and intelligence revealed Putin has a “puppet government” ready to install after an invasion.

But Mr Johnson said: “This package will send a clear message to the Kremlin. We will not tolerate their destabilising activity and we will always stand with our Nato allies in the face of Russian hostility.

“If President Putin chooses a path of bloodshed and destruction, it will be a tragedy for Europe.

"Ukraine must be free to choose its own future. I have ordered our Armed Forces to prepare to deploy across Europe, ensuring we are able to support our Nato allies on land, at sea and in the air.” The Prime Minister is expected to relay that message in person during a meeting with the Russian premier this week.

The planned deployment will include 1,200 Paras, Royal Marine mountain and arctic warfare specialists, Royal Artillery armed with deep fire rocket systems, and Apache gunships.

Also poised are cyber units from the Royal Signals, drones, medics and six Chinook troop-carrying helicopters.