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       With UK nationals told to flee Ukraine, what is behind the tensions with Russia?

       Boris Johnson has warned an invasion of Ukraine could take place within 48 hours as he said the region was entering a “very, very dangerous, difficult situation”.

       Urging Vladimir Putin to step back from the “edge of a precipice”, the prime minister said “serious preparations” were being made for a Russian invasion, with around 130,000 troops massed on the borders of Ukraine.

       Mr Johnson also called for more dialogue and urged Russia to avoid a “disastrous” invasion, saying Mr Putin needed to understand the economic and political consequences if he launched an invasion of Ukraine.

       The Kremlin has said Russia’s security concerns would be eased significantly if Ukraine renounced its intention to join Nato. Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, had earlier reiterated that Kiev had a constitutional aim to join the alliance.

       Blocking Ukraine’s membership is chief among the security demands for western powers that Russia has made central to the current dispute — one which Nato allies fear could soon lead to an invasion.

       Recommended If Russia does invade Ukraine, what are the consequences for the world economy? What is happening with Russia and Ukraine? The crisis explained Why would Russia invade Ukraine? Ukraine crisis: What are the Minsk agreements?

       Key Points Russia: Ukraine droppping Nato bid would ease security fears UK: Bombs could fall on Ukraine ‘minutes after Putin gives the order’ Europe closer to war than for 70 years, says armed forces minister German chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Ukraine Russia ready to fire if foreign ships breach its waters — Report PM to urge Russia ‘back from brink’ of war Ukraine demands meeting with Russia within 48-hours

       Show latest update 1644845490 PM says he is ‘doing everything I can’ on Ukraine

       Asked if he would be travelling to Moscow to negotiate with President Putin, Boris Johnson said he would be “doing everything I can to help the diplomatic process”.

       The Prime Minister said: “I’m going to be doing everything I can to help the diplomatic process. I’ll be talking to various leaders, including Joe Biden, very soon.”

       He also said that Ukraine‘s future membership of Nato could not be “bargained away” as he stressed the importance of continuing talks.

       Mr Johnson told reporters: “I think it’s very important that we have a conversation, but what we can’t do is trade away the sovereign rights of the Ukrainians who aspire to Nato membership.

       “That’s something that was a massive gain for our world. If you remember what happened in 1990, you had a Europe whole and free, countries could decide their own futures. We can’t bargain that away. It’s for the Ukrainian people.”

       Tom Batchelor 14 February 2022 13:31

       1644844950 PM to cut short Cumbria trip

       The prime minister is to cut short a trip to Cumbria in light of the situation in Ukraine.

       Boris Johnson will not stay overnight in the region, instead returning to Downing Street, No 10 said.

       Tom Batchelor 14 February 2022 13:22

       1644844470 Truss to chair Cobra meeting on crisis

       Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Monday to discuss the consular response to the Ukraine crisis.

       Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair a full meeting of Cobra on Tuesday to consider the UK’s response to the crisis.

       A No 10 spokesman said: “This afternoon the foreign secretary will chair a (Cobra) meeting to discuss the consular response to the crisis in Ukraine following Friday’s update to travel advice.

       “The prime minister will receive a security briefing from his intelligence chiefs today.

       “Tomorrow the prime minister will chair a full meeting of (Cobra) to discuss the UK’s response to the current situation.”

       Tom Batchelor 14 February 2022 13:14

       1644843471 Johnson warns of possibility of Ukraine invasion in ‘next 48 hours’

       Boris Johnson has said a Russian invasion of Ukraine could come as early as the “next 48 hours”, as he urged Vladimir Putin to step back from the “edge of a precipice”.

       The prime minister said the evidence was “pretty clear” that the Kremlinwas planning such a move, with an estimated 130,000 Russian troops massing on the Ukrainian border.

       Downing Street also reiterated comments from the armed forces minister, James Heappey, saying there was a “grave possibility of an invasion this week” as tensions continue to build on the continent.

       Here is the story:

       Boris Johnson warns of possibility of Ukraine invasion in ‘next 48 hours’ No 10 says there is ‘grave possibility of an invasion this week’

       Tom Batchelor 14 February 2022 12:57

       1644842928 No 10 denies pressuring defence secretary to return from holiday

       Downing Street said it did not order the Defence Secretary to cancel his holiday after Ben Wallace, who has warned an attack is “highly likely”, left a family holiday in Europe early on Sunday, having set off a day earlier.

       Asked if No 10 ordered him to cancel his holiday, the PM’s official spokesman said: “No.”

       Pressed on why Mr Wallace deemed it OK to take the trip in the first place, the PM’s spokesman said: “I think this is a fast-moving situation.

       “I think he’s obviously kept that position under review and made the decision to cut short that holiday, which I understand had been long-planned.”

       Tom Batchelor 14 February 2022 12:48

       1644841897 Watch: With UK nationals told to flee Ukraine, what is behind the tensions with Russia?

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       Latest on the Ukraine-Russia dispute from Independent TV

       Liam James 14 February 2022 12:31

       1644840094 Russia ready to fire if foreign ships breach its waters — Report

       A senior Russian military official said that Russia was ready to open fire on foreign ships and submarines that illegally enter its territorial waters, Interfax, a Russian news agency reported.

       Stanislav Gadzhimagomedov, a deputy in the Russian armed forces staff office, was quoted as saying that any decision to strike would be taken only at the “highest level”.

       He was speaking two days after Moscow said a Russian naval vessel had chased away a US submarine in Russian waters in the Pacific. The United States denied it had carried out military operations in Russian territorial waters.

       Interfax quoted Mr Gadzhimagomedov as saying Russia was able to adequately counter the US fleet in the Black and Baltic Seas but did not have enough ships and plans to do so in the far east at the moment.

       All of Russia's military fleets have been carrying out exercises in recent weeks across vast areas including parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Mediterranean.

       Liam James 14 February 2022 12:01

       1644838804 German reinforcements arrive in Lithuania

       A German military aircraft carrying troop reinforcements landed at Lithuania's Kaunas airport this morning, a Reuters eyewitness said, the first of several planned deployments amid fears in the region over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.

       The A400M airplane carried around 70 troops of what is expected to grow to a 360-strong German deployment, which comes on top of existing Nato forces in the region, a spokesperson for the alliance's enhanced forward presence battlegroup said.

       The new deployments include artillery, reconnaissance troops and medics from units throughout Germany, with arrivals expected to continue throughout this week.

       Since 2017, Nato has deployed battlegroups in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland, in response to Russia annexing the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

       Totalling 5,000 soldiers, the battlegroups are led by Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

       Reuters 14 February 2022 11:40

       1644838151 Watch: Ukraine Special Forces offer training to civilians

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       ‘We are going through the most dangerous course of action'

       Liam James 14 February 2022 11:29

       1644837490 Extra rescue flights laid on from Kiev

       After the Dutch airline KLM indefinitely cancelled all flights from the Ukrainian capital, the Latvian carrier airBaltic is adding departures from Kiev.

       A statement issued from the AirBaltic headquarters at Riga airport read: “To address the significant passenger demand for flights from Kyiv, Ukraine to Riga, Latvia, AirBaltic has scheduled two additional flights.”

       They will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

       In addition, AirBaltic plans flights from the Ukrainian capital to Vilnius in Lithuania, and from Odessa to Riga.

       “The safety of our passengers and employees is the main priority of AirBaltic,” the airline said.

       “AirBaltic is flexible and ready to adjust its flight schedule if necessary.”

       Some airlines have cancelled or diverted flights to Ukraine amid fears that an invasion by Russia is imminent.

       KLM announced flights were cancelled until further notice and Ukrainian airline SkyUp diverted inbound flights to Moldova.

       Many remain in operation though as countries around the world order their citizens to leave the country.

       Wizz Air, a Hungarian airline, said flights were operating as normal.

       Liam James 14 February 2022 11:18

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