UK claims Putin is plotting a puppet regime in Ukraine
Johnson warns Europe against ‘naivety’ over Russia as Foreign Office names Kremlin’s agents
BRITAIN last night accused Russia of planning to install a puppet leader in Kyiv, as Boris Johnson warned EU leaders against “naivety” over Vladimir Putin’s demands regarding Ukraine.
In a highly unusual move, Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, released specially declassified intelligence naming Yevhen Murayev, a pro-Russian former Ukrainian MP, as the person thought to be the Kremlin’s preferred candidate to take over the country after an invasion.
Officials also named four former Ukrainian ministers alleged to be colluding with Russian intelligence officers, including spies involved in planning an attack.
The Kremlin has around 106,000 troops massed near Ukraine’s borders. British travellers were yesterday told not to visit the country, while Whitehall is finalising plans for sanctions. A German admiral who has since resigned was criticised for saying that what Mr Putin – who is demanding a ban on Ukraine joining Nato and a limit to the deployment of troops and weapons to the alliance’s eastern flank – wanted was “respect”.
Sources close to Mr Johnson said he “fears some world leaders may not appreciate the deteriorating picture on the Ukrainian border, or fully comprehend the risks posed by a bullying Russia”. A No10 source said the Prime Minister regarded the situation as “gravely dangerous”, and was calling on European counterparts to unite with the US in facing down Russian aggression.
“His resolve has hardened since the last call with President Putin in December, but he regards Western unity as key. He’s in close contact with Volodymyr Zelensky [the Ukrainian president] and other Western leaders,” they said.
The Foreign Office said it had “information” that Mr Murayev was being considered by Russia as a candidate to lead Ukraine. It declined to publish the intelligence itself.
Ms Truss called the intelligence evidence that Russia was trying to “subvert” Ukraine and called for an end to
‘We need to be strong, not to threaten Moscow, but because only strength can stop them’
the Kremlin’s “campaign of aggression”. Mr Murayev dismissed the accusations as “stupid and absurd”, pointing out that he has been subject to Russian sanctions himself.
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Tom Tugendhat, the chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, states: “For the first time in a generation we’re on the brink of war in Europe. We need to be strong, not to threaten Moscow, but because only strength can stop them.”
Whitehall was last night preparing to stand up specialist counter-disinformation cells and officials began work on new sanctions to debilitate the Russian economy if the Kremlin advances.
The Government is understood to be considering a “nuclear” option of backing the suspension of Russia from the Swift international payment scheme.
The Prime Minister believes possible sanctions “cannot exclude” Nord Stream 2, the gas pipeline between Russia and the EU, and is due to hold calls with G7 leaders to finalise a “sanction coalition” to take targeted measures against Putin-supporting oligarchs.
Yesterday, British travellers were advised against all non-essential travel to Ukraine. The Foreign Office asked UK nationals to register their presence in the country. Travel to Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea should be avoided, officials said.
Security experts said the Foreign Office intelligence, if accurate, indicated the “darkest of all scenarios”, namely a “full decapitation strategy” by Moscow, and described the UK’s decision to publish it as an attempt to
discredit the participants. Ms Truss said: “The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking.
“Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy.
“Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs.”
Ms Truss and Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, are expected to be sent to Europe next week to bolster support.
Yesterday it was confirmed that the Russian defence minister had accepted an invitation to meet Mr Wallace.
“The Prime Minister’s view is that the situation in Ukraine is the biggest test to the unity and resolve of the West and the Nato alliance in decades,” said a No 10 source.
“It would be frankly naive to assume that Russia could be mollified by changes to the European security architecture – the Kremlin’s behaviour has made that consistently clear.”
Britain’s ambassadors have been ordered to drive forward a package of “debilitating” economic measures against Russia should the situation escalate.
Mr Johnson has previously said European leaders would have to choose “between mainlining ever more Russian hydrocarbons in giant new pipelines, and sticking up for Ukraine and championing the cause of peace and stability”.
The UK is understood to have worked closely with the US on the gathering and declassification of the intelligence that led to yesterday’s disclosure, with the decision approved following a vetting process involving the intelligence services.
Jonathan Eyal, associate director of strategic research partnerships at the Royal United Services Institute, said that, if accurate, the intelligence on Russia’s plans to install a puppet leader pointed to the “darkest of all scenarios”.