Boris Johnson plans to telephone Russian President Vladimir Putin and visit eastern Europe in the coming days as the UK steps up its diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine border crisis, the BBC reports.
No 10 said the PM would repeat the need for Russia to “engage diplomatically” when he speaks to Putin next week, and would “reiterate the need for Russia to step back”, No 10 added.
Johnson has said the UK could deploy troops to protect Nato allies if Russia invaded Ukraine, which itself is not part of Nato. Russia wants the West to promise it will never allow Ukraine to join the military alliance, claiming it as a direct threat to its security.
Russia has placed about 100,000 troops, tanks, artillery and missiles near Ukraine’s border, but denies it plans to invade the former Soviet republic, which borders both Russia and the EU.
As well as Mr Johnson’s visit to the region, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will visit Moscow in the next two weeks, the Russian Embassy in the UK said.
On Monday, Britain’s Foreign Office is expected to announce to Parliament a toughening of its sanctions regime, which would enable the UK to target Russian interests.
Last week, Mr Johnson joined a phone call with US President Joe Biden, European leaders and Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
During the call, the leaders agreed “that diplomatic talks with Russia remained the first priority”, Downing Street said.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The prime minister is determined to accelerate diplomatic efforts and ramp up deterrence to avoid bloodshed in Europe.”
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