Putin warns Biden sanctions would be ‘a colossal mistake'

JOE Biden has warned Vladimir Putin that America could impose tough sanctions against Russia if it invades Ukraine.

- Martyn Brown Senior Political Correspondent

But the Russian president branded any such a move a “colossal mistake”.

He said it could lead to a total collapse in relations between his country and the West.

The fall-out came after the two leaders spoke amid growing alarm over Russia’s relentless troop build-up near the east European state.

Some analysts fear the Kremlin could order an invasion within days, with more than 100,000 Russian troops now deployed on the border.

The call, requested by Russia, was the pair’s second such conversation in December and lasted for almost an hour.