BORIS Johnson warned President Putin today that invading Ukraine would be “painful, violent and bloody”.
The PM issued a dire warning as the UK and US began pulling embassy staff out of the region over fears war may be just days away.
It comes as Nato allies prepare to send more troops and resources to the region as tensions heat up.
The Prime Minister said the intelligence around the situation was “gloomy” but war was not inevitable.
Speaking to reporters in Milton Keynes, Mr Johnson said: “We do think it prudent to make some changes now.
“The intelligence is very clear that there are 60 Russian battle groups on the borders of Ukraine, the plan for a lightning war that could take out Kyiv is one that everybody can see.
“We need to make it very clear to the Kremlin, to Russia, that that would be a disastrous step.”
The UK is leading the way on “creating a package of economic sanctions” against Russia if they do strike.
He went on: “We also need to get a message that invading Ukraine, from a Russian perspective, is going to be a painful, violent and bloody business,” he said.
“I think it’s very important that people in Russia understand that this could be a new Chechnya.”
Mr Johnson said he had visited Ukraine and knew the people of the country, adding: “My judgment is that they will fight.
“There is certainly a very, very large array of Russian forces and we have to take the necessary steps.
“I don’t think it’s by any means inevitable now, I think that sense can still prevail.”
Vladimir Putin has around 100,000 troops and heavy armour stationed near the border after talks to avert a bloody conflict failed to reach a breakthrough.
And the Foreign Office said today it was pulling some diplomats out of Kiev in response to a growing threat from Russia.
A spokesperson said: “The British Embassy remains open and will continue to carry out essential work.”
Trending In The News understands around half of UK staff are expected to leave with their families – with the other half to remain on the ground.
The FCO is now advising against all but essential travel to the rest of Ukraine.
There will be no deadline to leave, and commercial flights are still operating.
It is thought to be a precaution rather than a response to any developments in the past 24 hours.
Germany, Australia, the US and other nations are also withdrawing their staff too.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is in Brussels today for talks with counterparts in the EU and Nato over the escalating conflict.
Nato allies are today sending more ships and fighter jets to Eastern Europe.
Denmark is sending a frigate to the Baltic sea and four F-16s to Lithuania.
Spain is sending shops and mulling sending more jets to Bulgaria too.
Meanwhile, France is eyeing up putting more boots on the ground in Romania.
It came after Britain took the unusual step of naming former MP Yevhen Murayev as a potential Kremlin candidate to take over in Kiev.
The Foreign Office said Putin plans to install a Russian stooge in place to run Ukraine as troops prepare for a possible invasion.
And the Netherlands is sending two F-35s and putting units on standby.
There’s no word yet whether the UK will send more.
Last week the Defence Secretary said he would send anti-tank missiles to Ukraine to help defend against Putin.
Russia has accepted Britain’s invitation for last-minute peace talks, but have asked us to go to Moscow for crunch meetings.
It would be the first diplomatic talks between Britain and Russia since relations deteriorated after the poisoning of the Skripals back in 2018.
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