Boris Johnson prepares to double number of troops in Eastern Europe amid Ukraine crisis

“I have ordered our armed forces to prepare to deploy across Europe next week, ensuring we are able to support our Nato allies on land, at sea and in the air.”

Earlier this week, I was briefed by our defence chiefs on the situation on Ukraine’s border.

The picture is increasingly concerning – I continue to urge Russia to engage in negotiations and avoid a reckless and catastrophic invasion. pic.twitter.com/ILaJzxCURI

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 30, 2022

Meanwhile, the defence and foreign secretaries are preparing to meet their counterparts in Moscow to try and de-escalate tensions.

Britain has already threatened Russia with tough economic sanctions.

In recent days, Russia has increased its military presence near Ukraine’s border, raising concerns in the West of a planned invasion.

The Kremlin has denied it plans to invade the country.

Currently, there are roughly 100,000 Russian troops, tanks, artillery and missiles on the border.

The UK has more than 900 military personnel based in Estonia, more than 100 in Ukraine as part of a training mission, while a light cavalry squadron numbering about 150 is deployed to Poland, the BBC reports.

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• Britain will send troops ‘to defend Europe’ if Putin invades Ukraine, says PM
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• UK will ‘stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine’ but ‘xtremely unlikely’ to send troops, Raab says