Boris Warns: Don't Shake Foundations

Boris Johnson has warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would “shake the foundations of international order”.

- Macer Hall

The Prime Minister made the comment to Japan’s premier Fumio Kishida yesterday as doubts grew over Moscow’s claims that it was pulling troops back from the border.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Nato chiefs said they had not seen evidence that Russian forces were returning to their bases as promised by Kremlin leaders.

Mr Johnson spoke to his Japanese counterpart by phone in his diplomatic push to ease the crisis. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The leaders discussed the deeply concerning situation on the border of Ukraine, and the Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Kishida for his offer to divert Japanese energy supplies to Europe.

“Both agreed that the international community needed to stand united against an invasion of an independent country and said they would not tolerate Russia’s aggression.

“An invasion would shake the foundations of international order and have severe consequences, they agreed.”

The first additional British troops being deployed to Estonia left bases yesterday as the UK reinforces Europe’s eastern flank.

The Government has pledged to double the current 850 troops in Estonia. And the first troops from the Royal Welsh battlegroup left their bases in the UK and Sennelager in Germany, along with additional tanks and armoured fighting vehicles, yesterday and are expected to arrive over the coming days.

Four additional UK Typhoon jets have also landed in Cyprus and will shortly begin to patrol the skies with Nato Allies.

Meanwhile, Liz Truss is to head to Ukraine today in the continuing diplomatic effort to face down the Russian threat.