The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Russian invasion ‘very likely’
There is a “very significant” risk that Russia will mount an invasion of Ukraine, according to Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab.
It comes as Britain accused President Vladimir Putin of plotting to install a pro-moscow leader as head of the government in Russia’s neighbouring country.
The Foreign Office took the unusual step of naming former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev as a potential Kremlin candidate to take over in Kyiv.
Western allies have stepped up warnings that Russia will pay a heavy price if the estimated 100,000 troops massed on the border launch any kind of incursion into Ukraine.
Asked if he thought Russia would invade
Ukraine, Mr Raab told the BBC’S Sunday Morning programme: “I think there is a very significant risk of it.
“The world needs to keep its eye on this and be very clear with President Putin that it would not do this cost-free, that there would be a price.
“A price in terms of the strenuous defence that we would expect the Ukrainians to put up, but also the economic cost through sanctions, which are of course more effective if the international community speaks as one or at least with a broad consensus.”
In a statement on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the Russian plotting showed the lengths to which the Kremlin was prepared to go to undermine the government in Kyiv.
“Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy,” she said.
Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, said a Russian invasion is “very likely” but also told Times Radio that “there is still room for a diplomatic resolution”.
He told Sky’s Trevor Phillips On Sunday that Ukraine would “absolutely” like to join the European Union and Nato.
He said: “That’s what we made clear eight years ago, and that’s why Russians came, and it didn’t change our resolve even an inch.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia accused the UK Foreign Office of circulating “disinformation”.