Ukraine news - live: Brits told to leave country immediately as fears mount of Russian invasion

Britons have been told to leave Ukraine immediately over fears of an invasion by Russian forces.

The Foreign Office updated its advice on Friday evening to tell UK nationals to “leave now while commercial means are still available”.

The warning came after Boris Johnson voiced fears for the security of Europe during a call with world leaders including US President Joe Biden.

It comes after UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned that Russia could still launch an invasion at short notice after holding “frank” discussions with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.

Mr Wallace said the positioning of Russian forces gives them the ability to invade a neighbouring country “at any time”, but he said he had heard from the Russian government that it has “no intention” of invading Ukraine.

Russia has already massed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine, and this week it launched joint military exercises in neighbouring Belarus and naval drills in the Black Sea.

Key Points

• UK orders Britons out of Ukraine as White House says Putin poised for invasion

• Defence secretary set for Moscow trip in effort to quell border tensions

• Russia continues military buildup on three sides of Ukraine, satellite images show

• Blinken warns Russia continuing to mass troops along Ukraine border

• Russia accuses EU and Nato of ‘impoliteness and disrespect'

18:56 , Joe Middleton

UK orders Britons out of Ukraine as White House says Putin poised for invasion

18:48 , Joe Middleton

The UK government is urging Britons in Ukraine to leave and anyone thinking of travelling there not to do so as fears mounted of war in eastern Europe.

The advice was issued by the Foreign Office amid the huge Russian troop build-up.

US Secretary of State Joe Blinken said a Russian invasion could take place at any time.

Jane Dalton has the latest.

UK orders Britons out of Ukraine as White House says Putin poised to invade

Russia could be planning to attack 'Ukraine prior to end of Olympics’

17:31 , Emily Atkinson

No repercussions for Olympic athlete holding ‘No War in Ukraine’ sign, rules Games committee

17:11 , Emily Atkinson

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have said they will not act on the Ukrainian skeleton athlete who flashed a blue-and-yellow sign that read ‘No War in Ukraine’ to the cameras as he finished a run at the Beijing Olympics today.

Despite fears the IOC could have ruled Vladyslav Heraskevych’s action a violation of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter - that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas” - they have closed the case.

The IOC instead described the event as a “general call for peace.”

Watch: UK and Russia relations now ‘above zero’, says Ben Wallace

16:57 , Emily Atkinson

Russia massing more troops on Ukraine border, warns US

16:50 , Emily Atkinson

Russia has sent more troops onto the border with Ukraine and an invasion could arrive come the end of the Winter Olympics this month, the US government said today.

Satellite images shared by a private US company have shown clusters of Russian military deployments in a number of locations near the border.

“Things could go crazy quickly,” President Joe Biden told NBC News as part of an announcement in which he said he would not send troops to rescue US citizens from Ukraine should Russia attack.

Athlete shows ‘No War in Ukraine’ sign at Winter Olympics

15:55 , Tom Batchelor

A Ukrainian skeleton athlete flashed a small sign that read ‘No War in Ukraine’ to the cameras as he finished a run at the Beijing Olympics on Friday night.

Vladyslav Heraskevych’s sign was printed on a blue-and-yellow piece of paper, matching the colors of his country’s flag. He did not display the message after his second run of the night, which was his fourth and final run of the Olympics.

“It’s my position. Like any normal people, I don’t want war,” Heraskevych said after he finished competing. “I want peace in my country, and I want peace in the world. It’s my position, so I fight for that. I fight for peace.”

‘Absolutely no deafness or blindness,’ says Wallace

15:47 , Tom Batchelor

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said there was “absolutely no deafness or blindness” in his talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, characterising them as “constructive and frank” discussions which he hopes will create a better atmosphere between the two sides.

Asked about foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s characterisation of his meeting with Liz Truss as a conversation between “deaf and dumb”, Mr Wallace said: “I think minister Lavrov is a master at these types of engagements and making those types of comments.

“In our discussion there was absolutely no deafness or blindness, we as defence ministers bear the responsibility of the consequences of what happens in conflict.

“We deal with the facts and we deal with the issues we have because it is in both our interests to resolve that.

“I think we have had a constructive and frank discussion and I hope it has contributed to a better atmosphere but also to de-escalation, but there is still considerable way to go between the two of us.”

Netherlands advises Dutch citizens ‘to leave Ukraine'

14:35 , Tom Batchelor

The Dutch government has advised its citizens to leave Ukraine as soon as possible due to the security situation, the Dutch radio broadcaster BNR said on Friday, citing the Dutch ambassador in Ukraine.

The Netherlands will move its diplomatic post from Kyiv to Lviv in western Ukraine, BNR said.

It follows not long after Japan issued similar advice to its citizens.

UK-Russia relations at ‘zero’ but diplomacy still possible, says UK defence secretary

14:24 , Tom Batchelor

Ben Wallace has told his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu he hoped they could use their meeting in Moscow to resolve a number of issues through diplomacy after admitting relations were currently at “0 per cent”.

Speaking following talks in Moscow, the British defence secretary said: “I hope that by speaking today and starting that relationship, that was at 0 per cent, we can resolve a number of the issues that you’ve raised,” Wallace said at the start of their meeting.

“(That) we can address some of the issues raised in Russia’s draft treaty ... and we can try and move on to where we can resolve our issues together through diplomacy, through other actions, and through confidence building measures.”

Germany calls Russian military exercises an ‘escalation’

14:11 , Tom Batchelor

Russia’s troop build-up and military exercises on the border with Ukraine amount to an escalation, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has said.

“On the military side we are not seeing any signs of de-escalation but rather the opposite. The Russian military build-up continues and in Belarus some 30,000 soldiers carried out military exercises, partly very close to the Ukrainian border,” Ms Baerbock said during a news conference in Amman, Jordan.

“This is why are preparing intensively for all scenarios, of course with close coordinations with our allies and with our partners in the European Union,” she added. “There is a red line and this is the sovereignty of Ukraine. We are preparing with all measures and with rigour but we are also simultaneously working for dialogue.”

Japan urges its citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately

13:59 , Tom Batchelor

Japan has called for its citizens to leave Ukraine amid the ongoing tension and fears of an invasion.

The Japanese foreign ministry said on Friday it had issued an advisory urging Japanese nationals to leave right away.

Join our expert panel as they discuss the Ukraine crisis

13:30 , Tom Batchelor

Join our free virtual event expert panel on Wednesday 23 February hosted by The Independent’s International Editor David Harding.

David will be joined by Deputy International Editor Kieran Guilbert, broadcaster Mary Dejevsky and Defence and Diplomatic Editor Kim Sengupta, who has been on the ground in Ukraine to discuss what’s happening and what could happen next.

The event will be hosted on Zoom on 23 February at 6.30pm GMT and will last one hour. It is free to attend.

To find out more and to sign up click here.

Russia accuses EU and Nato of ‘impoliteness and disrespect'

13:00 , Tom Batchelor

Russia’s foreign ministry has claimed the joint Nato-EU response to the crisis has been disrespectful and lacking substance.

The ministry said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had asked all member nations of the two blocs about their understanding of the principle of “indivisible security”, expecting an individual response from each country.

Instead he had received replies from the head of Nato and the EU foreign policy chief, to whom Mr Lavrov had not addressed the request.

“Such a step cannot be seen as anything other than a sign of diplomatic impoliteness and disrespect for our request,” the ministry said.

Peace talks failed over Russian demands, says Ukraine minister

12:28 , Tom Batchelor

Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia failed to reach a breakthrough due to Russia’s insistence that Ukraine talk directly to the so-called breakaway republics in the eastern Donbass region, Ukraine‘s Foreign Minister has said.

Ukrainian and Russian officials met in the German capital on Thursday for talks on ending the conflict. More meetings are expected soon.

“Russia insists that Ukraine conduct a direct dialogue with the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

“If Ukraine agrees to this, then the status of Russia will change from being a party to the conflict to the status of being a mediator in the conflict. That is why we do not go for it.”

Invasion could come at any time, says Blinken

11:59 , Tom Batchelor

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that an invasion could come “at any time”.

Speaking during a visit to Australia, he told a news conference: “We’re in a window when an invasion could begin at any time, and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics.”

The Beijing games end on 20 February.

“Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border,” Mr Blinken said.

Separately, President Joe Biden said he would not send troops to rescue US citizens in the event of a Russian assault.

“Things could go crazy quickly,” Mr Biden told NBC News.

Ukraine expects regular talks with Russia after Berlin summit

11:47 , Tom Batchelor

Ukraine has said it expects four-way negotiations with Russia, Germany and France to happen more frequently after the latest round of talks took place in Berlin,

Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to Ukraine‘s president, said on Friday that all sides agreed on the need to maintain a ceasefire.

Ukrainian and Russian officials met in the German capital for talks on Thursday on ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Finland to sign deal for 64 F35s

10:55 , Tom Batchelor

Finland will sign a multi-billion pound agreement on Friday to buy F-35 fighter jets, bringing 64 radar-evading warplanes to a country bordering Russia.

Finland, which was historically neutral during the Cold War, is a member of the EU but not of the Nato Western military alliance, though it says it aims to cooperate with Nato and retains the right to join.

It’s government said the decision to buy the advanced US jets, announced in December, was part of long-term plans to boost the country’s defences and not a response to the ongoing confrontation between the West and Russia over Ukraine.

Agreements finalising the purchase of the jets would be signed on Friday with the US government and the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin Corp, the ministry said.

“Yes, today it will be signed... It is a binding agreement that Finland will purchase the jets,” Lauri Puranen, director in charge of the purchase at Finland’s ministry of defence told Reuters. Finland has previously said the planes would begin to be deployed in 2027.

Russia claims Truss ‘gaffe’ shows Western ignorance of Ukraine matters

10:28 , Tom Batchelor

The Kremlin claimed an apparent geographical gaffe by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was an example of how poorly informed Western leaders were about the Ukraine standoff.

“This is the reality in which we have to defend our position,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a briefing, adding that talks involving France and Germany on resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine yielded no results on Thursday.

Russia’s Kommersant newspaper quoted two diplomatic sources as saying that during their closed-door meeting on Thursday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had asked Ms Truss if she recognised Russian sovereignty over Rostov and Voronezh - two regions in the south of the country where Russia has been building up its forces.

Kommersant said Ms Truss replied that Britain would never recognise them as Russian, and had to be corrected by her ambassador. In a later interview with another Russian paper, Ms Truss said she had mistakenly thought Mr Lavrov was referring to Ukrainian provinces.

Watch live as Ben Wallace takes part in memorial ceremony in Moscow

10:02 , Tom Batchelor

Kremlin reveals why Putin and Macron were kept at distance during talks

09:54 , Tom Batchelor

The Kremlin has said that French President Emmanuel Macron was kept at a distance from Vladimir Putin at talks this week because the French leader declined to take a Russian Covid-19 test before their meeting.

The Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was understanding of the French position and had been guided by the need to protect Mr Putin at the meeting, where the leaders sat at opposite ends of a four-metre-long table.

He said this was not about politics and had not affected the talks.

Blinken warns Russia continuing to mass troops along Ukraine border

08:38 , Tom Batchelor

New Russian forces continue to arrive at the Ukrainian border and an invasion of Ukraine could begin at any time, including during the Beijing Winter Olympics, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference in Melbourne following a meeting of Quad - an informal grouping of United States, Australia, India and Japan - Mr Blinken said Washington was going to keep withdrawing staff from its embassy.

He added there were “very troubling” signs of Russian escalation in the region.

Ukraine is paying the price for a decade of western weakness and appeasement

07:28 , Arpan Rai

In The Independent’s Editorial today, the spotlight is on west’s non-existent united front that has failed Ukraine.

The sad truth about Ukraine is that the west will not fight for it. Boris Johnson, as if to underline the point, travelled all the way to a Nato meeting in Brussels, and then on to Poland, to show that he will talk tough and deploy troops there – and in any other Nato country or friend in the region – but not in Ukraine. There will be RAF patrols in Romania and out of Cyprus, there will be troops in Estonia and Poland, there will be royal navy ships in the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea; anywhere but Ukraine.

Morally, the Ukrainians certainly have Britain behind them, as Liz Truss told Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister. Then there is the potent threat to send British armaments to Ukraine, and that of fearsome economic sanctions – and, bizarrely, a pledge from the prime minister to overwhelm Russia’s diplomatic “bandwidth” with ever more talks. But not a single British squaddie will fire a single bullet at a Russian if that Russian puts a toecap over the frontier, as Mr Johnson puts it. Of that, all – including President Putin – may be sure.

Although the British are on the more honourable and determined end of the divided western response to Russian expansionism, the deterrence of a full military presence or defence-treaty guarantee for Ukraine is of course painfully absent. That is the problem. If the Russians believed that a war with Nato would follow any further aggression, they would not be menacing the country now.

Read the full Editorial on Russia-Ukraine conflict here

Our government is ‘sexing up’ the threat of a Russia-Ukraine conflict

06:16 , Arpan Rai

Columnist Mary Dejevsky explains that while personally she remains sceptical about any Russian plan to invade, the overheated talk, from wherever it comes, risks bringing about precisely that result.

Fake news, disinformation, misinformation – call it what you will. The study of disinformation has become ubiquitous across the western world and currently draws lavish funding.

Its aficionados tend to proceed from two assumptions. One is that the world is made up of “us” and “them”, friend and foe, and disinformation always and only comes from “them”. The other, which often shines through the painstaking analysis of algorithms, bots and the rest, is the belief that the majority of our fellow human beings are too stupid to tell truth from falsehood, and need to be taught, by the initiated and from an early age, how to spot the rogues.

None of this helps, however, when erroneous, misleading or – perish the thought – actual disinformation comes from your own side. When that information also has the potential to distort or fuel a changing and potentially incendiary situation, it poses a big question for journalists: can you believe what you are being told and, if not, what can and should you do about it?

Read her column on how the threat of Russia-Ukraine conflict is being hyped

Opinion: Our government is ‘sexing up’ the threat of a Russia-Ukraine conflict

Russia continues military buildup on three sides of Ukraine, satellite images show

05:56 , Arpan Rai

Russia is cornering Ukraine in a military buildup from three sides — Crimea, western Russia and Belarus — satellite images have confirmed.

A large deployment of troops and equipment is visible in Crimea, US-base technology company Maxar said, citing fresh images collected on Thursday.

Military troops and equipment is seen at Oktayabrskoye airfield, a formerly disused base in Simferopol in the north of the Crimean capital, reported CNN.

More than 550 troop tents and hundreds of vehicles have arrived at the Crimean site, according to Maxar, in addition to other sites in Crimea like Novoozernoye which are also witnessing an influx of troops and equipment., said Maxar’s senior director Stephen Wood.

At Novoozernoye, extensive artillery deployments and training exercises have been observed.

In a first, Maxar has also traced military deployment by Russia in the town of Slavne on the northwest coast of Crimea, including armoured vehicles.

Defence Secretary set for Moscow trip in effort to quell Ukraine border tensions

05:17 , Arpan Rai

Defence secretary Ben Wallace is set to leave for Moscow and meet his Russian counterpart on Friday in the UK’s ongoing effort to quell the simmering crisis on the Ukrainian border.

This trip will come shortly after Boris Johnson’s visit to Brussels and Warsaw on Thursday as he underlined that the continent faces its biggest security crisis in decades and Russian leader Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to “bully” eastern Europe.

The administration confirmed preparations to allow the UK to “toughen and expand” its sanctions against Russia have come into force.

Mr Wallace will make clear to Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, that invading Ukraine would be a “lose-lose” situation, reported The Times.

In the coming days, the UK could now impose sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals in a range of significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, ICT and financial services industries.

Amy Gibbons has the full report here

Ukrainian general tells Russian troops ‘land will be flooded’ with blood

04:31 , Arpan Rai

Ukrainian General Oleksandr Syrskyi has issued a stern message for Russian troops on the other side of the border, stating that a full invasion of Ukraine would not be a “simple walk in the park” as the situation remains tense in the region.

Commander of all Ukrainian ground forces, the general said that his troops will fight for every metre if Russia invades Ukrainian territory.

“The armed forces of Ukraine are ready. We are capable and we will not give up a single metre of Ukrainian land without a fight,” general Syrskyi told Sky News.

He added: “We are ready, and we warn them: ‘It won’t be a simple walk in the park. Each metre of that land will be flooded with the occupants’ [other side’s] blood.

“I trust in the Ukrainian servicemembers. I trust in our armed forces and I trust in our victory,” he said.

More than 100,000 troops are on guard at Russia’s border it shares with Ukraine, signalling its preparedness for military action.

Biden tells US citizens to leave Ukraine: ‘That’s a world war when...’

04:15 , Arpan Rai

Warning that the US troops will not be able to intervene militarily to help American citizens get out of Ukraine, Joe Biden has urged them to leave the European country immediately.

“American citizens should leave now. It’s not like we’re dealing with a terrorist organisation. We’re dealing with one of the largest armies in the world,” he said.

The president added: “It’s a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly.”

Mr Biden was speaking with NBC News when he said that he still fears Russia’s leader could order his troops into Ukraine.

On being asked if there’s a situation where he will send US troops to Ukraine to help American citizens, Mr Biden said: “There’s not. That’s a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another.”

More details on Mr Biden’s interview can be read here

US asks its citizens in Ukraine to depart immediately

03:30 , Arpan Rai

The US department of state has issued a fresh set of warnings for its citizens asking them to not travel to Ukraine, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, citing potential military action from Russia.

This travel advisory replaces the previous one issued on 23 January.

“Do not travel to Ukraine due to the increased threats of Russian military action and Covid-19, those in Ukraine should depart now via commercial or private means. If remaining in Ukraine, exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and potential combat operations should Russia take military action,” the advisory read, adding that some areas have increased risk.

There are continued reports of a Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine, indicating potential for significant military action against Ukraine,” officials said in the advisory.

It added: “The security conditions, particularly along Ukraine’s borders, in Russia-occupied Crimea, and in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine, are unpredictable and can deteriorate with little notice. Demonstrations, which have turned violent at times, regularly occur throughout Ukraine, including in Kiev.”

Biden tells US citizens to leave Ukraine immediately as fears of invasion persist

03:18 , Arpan Rai

Hello, Arpan Rai here, I’m taking over our live coverage on Ukraine now and will be with you for the next few hours.

You can read all about our reportage on Ukraine here

Thursday 10 February 2022 22:10 , Katy Clifton

That’s all for our live updates this evening. We’ll be back with the latest news on the Ukraine crisis tomorrow morning.

Jeremy Corbyn criticises Starmer and Johnson over Ukraine

Thursday 10 February 2022 21:05 , Laurie Churchman

Jeremy Corbyn has hit out at “very unfair remarks” made by Keir Starmer.

Earlier, Mr Starmer declared his “unshakeable” support for Nato while denouncing an anti-war group with strong links to the former leader.

He said the Stop The War coalition was at best “naive”, and at worst is strengthening those who threaten democracies.

But at a virtual Stop The War rally, Mr Corbyn defended the group, saying it is focused on the British government because it is a British organisation.

He also criticised the prime minister.

“Boris Johnson, who probably for his own political reasons to get out of all the other problems he has got, has headed off to the Ukraine.

“He has made increasingly bellicose statements about the need for and preparedness for armed conflict in the Ukraine - and keeps on thinking he’s in some kind of historic moment.

“He does tend to model himself on Winston Churchill, rather too often for comfort.

“They are simply backing the idea there is only a military solution to this issue. Well there isn’t. There has to be a peaceful solution.”

Labour leader declares ‘unshakeable’ commitment to Nato in contrast with predecessor

Thursday 10 February 2022 20:50 , Liam James

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of Britain’s Labour party, declared an “unshakeable” support for Nato as he distanced himself from his predeccesor Jeremy Corbyn with an attack on anti-war group with strong links to the former leader.

The Stop The War coalition says it stands against what it describes as Britain’s “disastrous addiction to war” but it has repeatedly come under fire for alleged anti-Western sentiments.

Mr Corbyn, now an independent MP, is a former chairman of the coalition, and was due to speak at a rally staged by the group tonight, titled No War in Ukraine: Stop Nato Expansion.

In a stinging rebuke, Sir Keir said the organisation was at best “naive”, and at worst is strengthening those who threaten democracies.

Sir Keir also said Mr Corbyn was “wrong” about Nato, and Labour’s commitment to the alliance is “unshakeable”.

The Labour leader met with Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels today. Afterwards Sir Keir told the BBC that Labour’s commitment to Nato was “unshakeable”.

Inside the Pravy Sektor on Ukraine’s front line

Thursday 10 February 2022 20:38 , Laurie Churchman

The Independent’s Kim Sengupta has been speaking to members of a controversial armed group on Ukraine’s front line.

Pravy Sektor (Right Sector) emerged from the fierce street clashes that overthrew the government of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych seven years ago.

Their commander said: “We are not extremists, we are not ultras, we are not hard or far right. These are the labels some people use against us, and these labels are wrong.”

You can read the full story below.

Nationalists not extremists: Pravy Sektor deny radicalism claims

Watch live as Ukraine receives another shipment of weapons from US

Thursday 10 February 2022 20:20 , Liam James

UK passes law to ‘toughen’ sanctions against Russia

Thursday 10 February 2022 19:48 , Liam James

A new law to allow the UK to “toughen and expand” its sanctions against Russia has come into force, the government said.

Foreign office minister James Cleverly signed off the new powers this evening.

The government claims the reform “provides the framework for the strongest sanctions regime the UK has had against Russia”.

The UK could now impose sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals in a range of significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, the ICT investment group and financial services industries.

Labour asked why MPs were not given time to debate the legislation.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said that MPs “deserve the opportunity to scrutinise and debate these measures and they need to be in place”.

Thursday 10 February 2022 18:57 , Liam James

The Kremlin has mocked Liz Truss’s alleged issues with geographical locations before.

The foreign secretary said in a television interview on Ukraine that “we are supplying and offering extra support into our Baltic allies across the Black Sea”.

The Baltic and Black Seas are around 700 miles apart.

Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, commented: “The Baltic countries are called so because they are located precisely off the coast of this [Baltic] sea. Not the Black [Sea]. If anyone needs to be saved from anything, then it is the world from the stupidity and ignorance of Anglo-Saxon politicians.”

Liz Truss fumbles Russian geography after Lavrov meeting — report

Thursday 10 February 2022 18:41 , Liam James

Liz Truss reportedly made an embarassing geographical error at a press conference after her meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

Kommersant, a Russian newspaper, reported that when the British foreign secretary demanded that Russia pulls back its force from Ukraine’s borders, Mr Lavrov asked: “You do recognise Russia’s sovereignty over the Rostov and Voronezh regions?”

After a brief pause the British Foreign Secretary replied: “Great Britain will never recognise Russia’s sovereignty over those regions.”

The two regions are, of course, parts of Russia as, according to the report, the UK’s ambassador to Moscow, Deborah Bronnert, explained to Ms Truss.

Later the British embassy tweeted (in Russian) this response from Ms Truss that appeared to confirm she made the mistake.

It said she told Russian media: “During the meeting it seemed to me that Minister Lavrov was talking about a part of Ukraine. I have made clear that these regions [Rostov and Voronezh] are part of sovereign Russia.”

A Foreign Office official refused to comment on whether Ms Truss may have confused Rostov and Voronezh with Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine — which became separatist republics with Russian backing after the conflict of 2014.

EU responds to Russia’s security demands as one

Thursday 10 February 2022 18:15 , Liam James

The European Union said it has delivered a letter on behalf of all 27 of its foreign ministers in response to Russia's proposals to member states on European security.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov earlier today said a collective EU response would lead to a breakdown in talks.

The European Commission said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell decided to reply to letters sent in January by Mr Lavrov to all 27 member states in a single letter to show unity.

EU diplomats told Reuters that Mr Lavrov’s letters were seen as a way to divide the bloc, which has differing sympathies towards Moscow, as it considers economic sanctions on Russia in the case of a new Ukraine conflict.

Russia's embassy to the EU said in a statement that it had received the letter.

The contents of the letters were not made public by either side but diplomats said they related to Russia's concerns about security on it western borders and EU efforts to resolve tensions through diplomacy.

Ukraine and Russia: Join our expert panel as they discuss the simmering conflict and what could happen next

Thursday 10 February 2022 18:01 , Liam James

The Russia-Ukraine crisis is not new, but, right now the simmering conflict threatens to turn into Europe’s worst war in generations if all sides cannot pull back from the brink?

Join our free virtual event expert panel on Wednesday 23 February hosted by The Independent’s International Editor David Harding.

David will be joined by Deputy International Editor Kieran Guilbert, broadcaster Mary Dejevsky and Defence and Diplomatic Editor Kim Sengupta, who has been on the ground in Ukraine to discuss what’s happening and what could happen next.

To find out more and to sign up click here.

Ukraine: What is the story behind the crisis with Russia?

Top US general speaks to Belarusian counterpart as Russia launches Black Sea drills

Thursday 10 February 2022 17:30 , Liam James

America’s top general has spoken with his Belarusian counterpart, the Pentagon said.

Russia began holding military exercises in Belarus and the Black Sea today following its troop buildup near Ukraine.

General Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed security concerns with Major General Viktor Gulevich of Belarus in their call today.

Colonel Dave Butler, a spokesman for Mr Milley, said: “The phone call facilitated communication between both leaders to reduce chances of miscalculation and gain perspectives on current European security.”

Nato said last week that Russia was expected to have 30,000 troops in Belarus as well as Spetsnaz special operations forces, SU-35 fighter jets, S-400 air defence systems and nuclear-capable Iskander missiles.

Jens Stoltenberg, Nato secretary general, said it was “a dangerous moment for European security”.

“The number of Russian forces is going up. The warning time for a possible attack is going down.”

Boris Johnson ‘grateful’ for behaviour of British troops

Thursday 10 February 2022 16:38 , Liam James

Boris Johnson praised the behaviour of UK troops during a visit to a military base in Warsaw.

Following a photo with Royal Engineers, Royal Marines and Polish troops, the prime minister said he was “very proud” that UK armed forces were “standing side by side” with Poland over fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He also told British troops: “I’m very grateful that you are behaving so well”, telling them he had heard positive reports since the Engineers were deployed in December.

Some Marines told Mr Johnson they had arrived on Thursday, with some understood to have landed only hours before he did.

Separately, Mr Johnson praised the reputation of Polish pilots who fought with Britain during the Second World War.

Boris Johnson: ‘Automatic package’ of sanctions ‘ready to go’ if Russia attacks Ukraine

Thursday 10 February 2022 16:02 , Holly Bancroft

Boris Johnson has repeated warnings that a potential invasion of Ukraine by Russia would be a “catastrophic mistake”.

He said that the UK had an “automatic package of sanctions ready to go” if Russia resorted to military action, including sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Referring to Germany’s dependence on Russian gas, Mr Johnson said: “We all know how difficult that is for some of our friends and we all know that, particularly right now with the spike in gas prices, it will be tough to say ‘no’ to Nord Stream 2.

“But I think it is absolutely right that we need to make progress on that. That is a very, very important priority.”

Explainer: What are the Minsk agreements?

Thursday 10 February 2022 15:32 , Holly Bancroft

French president Emmanuel Macron has said that a revival of the Minsk peace accord from 2014 and 2015 is the “only path on which peace can be built” between Ukraine and Russia.

So what are the Minsk agreements?

Read our explainer by Joe Sommerland here:

What are the Minsk agreements?

Liz Truss: If Russia is serious about not invading, they should withdraw troops

Thursday 10 February 2022 15:19 , Holly Bancroft

Liz Truss has repeated her demands to Russia that, if they want to prove they are serious about not invading Ukraine, they need to withdraw troops from the border.

In a statement on social media, Ms Truss wrote: “I delivered a clear message to Minister Lavrov that Russia must deescalate, respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and engage in meaningful talks.

“If Russia is serious about not invading, we need to see troops withdraw. The military build-up is an undeniable threat to Ukraine.”

Boris Johnson warns Ukraine crisis is Europe’s ‘most dangerous moment’ for decades

Thursday 10 February 2022 15:07 , Holly Bancroft

In case you missed it...

Boris Johnson has warned that Europe is entering its “most dangerous moment” amid a standoff with Russia over Ukraine, as both sides stage war games and British and other world leaders embark on a diplomatic push to ease tensions.

Meeting Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, the prime minister said it was possible “that something absolutely disastrous could happen very soon”.

Read the full piece from Tom Batchelor here:

Boris Johnson warns Ukraine crisis is Europe’s ‘most dangerous moment’ for decades

Polish prime minister calls on Germany to not be blackmailed over Russian gas

Thursday 10 February 2022 14:35 , Holly Bancroft

Poland’s prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki has issued an appeal to Germany over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Russia.

Mr Morawiecki said: “As regards Nord Stream, I would like to appeal to our German allies: you have to announce, as soon as possible, that this gas pipeline should not be used as blackmail.”

He added: “When an imperial policy is a guiding principle, anything can become an instrument of aggression - it can be a gas pipeline, a migrant flow or the internet”.

Mr Morawiecki also thanked Boris Johnson for the UK’s support of Poland and accused Vladimir Putin of trying to “dismantle” the Nato alliance.

Boris Johnson: We stand shoulder to shoulder with Poland

Thursday 10 February 2022 14:13 , Holly Bancroft

Speaking on a trip to the Polish capital Warsaw, Boris Johnson said on Thursday that Britain would “stand shoulder to shoulder” with Poland.

At a joint appearance with Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Mr Johnson said: The lesson of the last 100 years is that when Poland is threatened with instability, war, aggression on the borders of Poland then we are all threatened and we are all affected.”

Boris Johnson: Britain and Poland will not accept Russian bullying

Thursday 10 February 2022 14:09 , Holly Bancroft

Boris Johnson has said that Britain and Poland will not accept a world where a “powerful neighbour can bully or attack” others in issuing a warning to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Speaking on a trip to Warsaw, Mr Johnson said: “We need to work together now to achieve de-escalation, to persuade Vladimir Putin to de-escalate and to disengage.

“We won’t accept, Poland and the UK, won’t accept a world in which a powerful neighbour can bully or attack their neighbours.”

Talks fail as icy Lavrov calls Liz Truss ‘unprepared'

Thursday 10 February 2022 13:51 , Holly Bancroft

In case you missed it...

Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov accused Liz Truss of refusing to listen on Thursday in a testy press conference that ended in Mr Lavrov leaving Ms Truss standing alone at her podium.

“I’m honestly disappointed that what we have is a conversation between a dumb and a deaf person.. Our most detailed explanations fell on unprepared soil,” Sergei Lavrov told reporters.

He added: “They say Russia is waiting until the ground freezes like a stone so its tanks can easily cross into Ukrainian territory. I think the ground was like that today with our British colleagues, from which numerous facts that we produced bounced off.”

Ms Truss challenged Mr Lavrov’s assertions that Russia was not threatening anyone by building up its troops on the Ukrainian border.

She said: “I can’t see any other reason for having 100,000 troops station on the border, apart from to threaten Ukraine. And if Russia is serious about diplomacy, they need to remove those troops and desist from the threats.”

At the end of the conference, Mr Lavrov walked off without waiting for Ms Truss - leaving her standing alone at her podium.