Boris vows to draw ‘line in the ice’ on Ukraine threats to NATO headquarters – Henry Club

Boris Johnson warned today that Europe is facing “the most dangerous moment in decades” and the “stakes were very high” as he urged Russia to withdraw from the “devastating” Ukraine invasion.

At a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, the PM said he does not believe Vladimir Putin has made a final decision about sending troops to the border.

But Mr Johnson acknowledged the signs were not good, insisting he would face a strong backlash if Mr Putin went ahead.

Arguing that the next few days will be crucial, Mr Johnson – who will tour Poland later – said: ‘The stakes are very high. And this is a very dangerous moment…

‘I honestly don’t think a decision has been made, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible that something really catastrophic could happen very soon.

‘Our intelligence, I am afraid to say, remains serious. We are seeing a large number of tactical battle groups gathering along the border with Ukraine.

‘This is probably the most dangerous moment in the next few days, which is facing Europe’s biggest security crisis in decades.’

He added: ‘This is a moment to think another way forward.’

Mr Stoltenberg said he had written to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to offer further talks.

“We stand ready to listen to Russia’s concerns and to discuss ways to maintain and strengthen the basic principles of European security that we have all signed,” he said.

‘NATO will not compromise on core principles – each nation’s right to choose its own path and NATO’s ability to defend and defend allies.’

The remarks came as Liz Truss urged Russia to “stop the Cold War rhetoric” and withdraw from a “disastrous” attack during troubled talks in Moscow.

The foreign secretary told Mr Lavrov that Kiev should not be “bullyed” and that it would have “massive consequences”.

After placing another 1,000 British troops on standby to fly into the troubled area, Ms Truss told Mr Lavrov: ‘The reality is that we are looking forward to building more than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border and undermining Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. efforts cannot be ignored. Honesty.

‘Basically, a war in Ukraine would be disastrous for the Russian and Ukrainian people, and for European security. And, together, NATO has made it clear that any incursion into Ukraine will have large-scale consequences and a serious cost.’

At a news conference with Mr Lavrov after their talks, Ms Truss said Europe’s “future peace and stability” was at stake.

“Russia still has time to end its aggression towards Ukraine and follow the path of diplomacy,” he said.

But NATO is very clear that if that path is not chosen, there will be dire consequences for Russia, Ukraine and Europe as a whole.

Labor leader Keir Starmer is also in the Belgian capital, emphasizing that he is fully involved behind the government’s response to Mr Trump. Putinmilitary mobilization.

The diplomatic blitz comes as a poll for MailOnline found strong support for sanctions if Mr. Some 49 percent said they would support a national boycott of Russian goods and services, while only 14 percent opposed.

However, the public appears divided on the idea of ​​deploying the army and supplying weapons.

Western leaders fear that the creation of 130,000 Russian troops on the Ukrainian border is the prelude to an invasion.

Six Russian landing ships loaded with tanks and soldiers gathered to support the ground forces in the Black Sea yesterday, raising concerns.

Moscow’s forces are also starting joint military exercises with ally Belarus.

Another 1,000 British troops would be ‘ready’ for deployment in the area in the event of an invasion of Russia.

One source said troops would “support a humanitarian response in the region, should it be needed”.

It is understood they will be asked to help secure the borders of Ukraine’s neighbors and build refugee camps in countries such as Poland and Lithuania, fearing more than a million Ukrainians may flee any conflict .

The shuttle diplomacy comes amid fears that French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing for a ‘compromise’ with Moscow that would force Ukraine to loosen its ties with the West.

Britain’s Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said on Thursday that Russia is planning to conduct nuclear strategic exercises, despite high tensions over Ukraine.

Wallace warned that despite efforts to find a diplomatic solution, the Kremlin’s actions were headed in the wrong direction, an intelligence announcement suggesting that Russia That Russia was involved in a plan to conduct so-called ‘false flag’ operations to attack Ukraine as well as to carry out cyber attacks and other destabilizing activities.

Wallace told BBC radio: ‘Despite talking, the direction of travel is wrong.

‘The Russians are still increasing their battalion tactical groups … they plan to start a nuclear tactical exercise soon, and in fact we see more activity elsewhere.’

A Russian defense source also told news agency TASS earlier this year that the nuclear exercise, known as ‘Thunder’, will involve all three sides of Russia’s strategic nuclear forces, which can be carried out by land, sea and air. Will test firing procedures.

Nuclear drills are frequent in Russia, but the decision to go ahead with such exercises given the tensions surrounding Ukraine will cause concern to world powers.

it comes in the form of forces from Russia And Belarus NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, described as a ‘dangerous moment’, began a joint military exercise with an estimated 30,000 soldiers participating in the 10-day war games near the Ukrainian border.

“We are closely monitoring Russia’s deployment to Belarus, the largest since the end of the Cold War,” Stoltenberg told reporters at a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson today.

‘This is a dangerous moment for European security. The number of the Russian army is increasing. The warning time of a possible attack is getting shorter.