WAR IN MOTION
PM warns ‘omens are grim’ as leaders hold crisis talks
The wheels of the Russian war machine are already turning, Western leaders said yesterday after a day of shelling and false flag attacks in eastern Ukraine.
Boris Johnson yesterday told world leaders an invasion of Ukraine appears to be “in motion” but that it still might be possible to prevent war.
And he branded reports of Russian withdrawal as “fake” with Washington estimating Vladimir Putin now has between 169,000 and 190,000 troops massed on Ukraine’s borders.
Warning the “omens are grim”, Johnson told NATO countries gathered at the Munich Security Summit: “At this moment of extreme danger for the world, it has seldom been more vital to preserve our unity and resolve.
“After a generation of freedom, we’re now staring at a generation of bloodshed and misery.”
Following crisis talks with US president Joe Biden and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the EU, Johnson said: “We should not underestimate the gravity of this moment.”
And he pledged to ban Russians from raising cash on London’s money markets and to delve into the ownership of companies to sanction those really in control if Ukraine is invaded. The UK is now sending aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, and 3 Commando Brigade to the region to reinforce our 2000 troops in Estonia and 600 in Poland.
And another 1000 more soldiers have been put on standby to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine should it be needed. Johnson also urged European countries to wean themselves off dependence on Putin’s oil and gas to make Russian threats redundant.
President Putin continues to deny any intention of crossing Ukraine’s borders. But president Biden cited US intel ligence assessments that an invasion will definitely happen this week. Meanwhile shells continued to rain down on stricken communities in frontline Ukraine yesterday as fears of a Russian invasion escalated.
Half a mile from pro-Russian lines in Stanitsa Luhanska there was a constant bombardment as separatists increased the intensity of their attacks.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “The deeply concerning signs of escalation show the threat of invasion by Russia remains real and immediate.”