BORIS Johnson today warned Russia is still massing forces at the Ukraine border amid fears it will launch a 1am invasion.
The PM said the latest intelligence is “not encouraging” with Kremlin troops building field hospitals near the frontier for their wounded.
And he warned Moscow could even use its navy to launch a amphibious assault from the Black Sea “encircling” Kyiv’s army.
Boris today threatened to clobber Russian banks, businesses, and oligarchs in the UK if Vladimir Putin goes ahead with the attack.
In his toughest remarks yet he vowed to root out shadowy London property owners and stop Kremlin-linked firms raising cash.
But speaking after an emergency COBRA meeting the PM also expressed hopes there are “signs of a diplomatic opening” for peace.
He said: “We know we are seeing a Russian openness to conversations and that’s good.
“On the other hand, the intelligence that we’re seeing today is still not encouraging.
“We’ve got Russian field hospitals being constructed near the border in Belarus for what can only be construed as preparation for an invasion.
“You’ve got more battalion tactical groups actually being brought closer to the border with Ukraine.”
The PM added: “We’re seeing mixed signals, and all the more reason for us to remain very tough and very united on economic sanctions.
His remarks came after NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said there have been no signs of Russian deescalation.
Speaking in Brussels the head of the alliance said the Kremlin’s build up of forces is still “unprecedented”.
And he urged Moscow to start withdrawing not just troops but also much of the heavy machinery needed for an invasion.
He said: “So far we have not seen any deescalation on the ground, any signs of reduced Russian military presence on the borders with Ukraine.”
But he added: “The signs coming from Moscow about a willingness to continue to engage in diplomatic efforts give some reason for cautious optimism.”
Earlier today the Kremlin claimed that it’s now withdrawing some soldiers from the Ukraine border.
Moscow accused the West of “war propaganda” over warnings of an imminent invasion and said it had “failed”.
RUSSIAN MOCKING
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said NATO had been “Humiliated and destroyed without a single shot fired.”
A Kremlin spokesman said: “We’ve always said the troops will return to their bases after the exercises are over. This is the case this time as well.”
But Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed doubt Moscow will stick to its word on the withdrawal.
He said: “We in Ukraine have a rule – we don’t believe what we hear, we believe what we see.
“If a real withdrawal follows these statements, we will believe in the beginning of a real de-escalation.
Mr Stoltenberg also warned a small troop withdrawal would count for little pointed out soldiers can easily be redeployed within days.
He said deployments of heavy equipment, which are much harder and slower to move around, are a better sign of Russia’s intentions.
Earlier today foreign secretary Liz Truss warned an invasion is still “imminent” and thought “highly likely”.
