We have to beware of giving Putin a pretext to invade Ukraine: British PM Boris Johnson

Britain and other NATO allies must be careful not to give Russia justification to invade Ukraine, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday, adding that no NATO allies were willing to send large numbers of troops to fight in Ukraine itself.

“We have to beware of doing things ... that would constitute a pretext for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to invade,” Johnson said.

“We have to calculate and calibrate what we do very carefully and I think building a strong package of economic sanctions, continuing to supply defensive weaponry, and all the other things that we’re doing - that’s the right package.”

Russia faces Western sanctions “heavier than anything” seen before if it invades Ukraine, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday after allied leaders held crisis talks on Moscow’s threats.

Johnson again warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of the likely devastation from any incursion by his forces, as he updated parliament following the call late Monday with the US and European allies.

“We agreed that we would respond to any Russian attack on Ukraine in unison by imposing coordinated and severe economic sanctions, heavier than anything we’ve done before against Russia,” he said.

Asked if Moscow could be frozen out of the global Swift system for financial payments, Johnson said: “There is no doubt that that would be a very potent weapon.”