‘Very, very dangerous': PM's warning on Russia build-up

Putin sends more units to border in sign crisis could extend for weeks. Ukraine ready to fight for freedom, says its president

- Dan Sabbagh & Jessica Elgot

Russia is sending thousands more troops to its border with Ukraine in a sign that Vladimir Putin could extend the crisis for weeks as Boris Johnson warned the situation had become “very, very dangerous”.

British officials estimate that a further 14 Russian battalions are heading towards Ukraine, each numbering about 800 troops, on top of the 100 battalions massed on the borders – a force already deemed capable of launching an invasion.

Ministers believe the Russian president has not yet decided to attack Ukraine and may never do so. But the continued build up of forces in excess of 150,000 helped prompt the prime minister to cut short a trip to Cumbria to chair a Cobra emergency meeting today.

Last night Johnson spoke to the US president, Joe Biden, and concluded, according to Downing Street, that there “remained a crucial window for diplomacy and for Russia to step back from its threats towards Ukraine”. Britain said the two emphasised the importance of unity and, while neither country would send troops to defend Ukraine, they insisted that any further incursion “would result in a protracted crisis for Russia”.

Earlier, Johnson warned: “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.”

He said it was important for western allies to remain united in the face of Russian pressure. Ukraine’s future membership of Nato could not be “bargained away” as part of western leaders’ efforts, he added.