Britain has accused Vladimir Putin of a “distraction technique” after he tried to blame Liz Truss for his own threat about using nuclear weapons.
Downing Street slapped down the Kremlin for saying the President put Russia ’s nuclear deterrent on a “special regime of combat duty" after statements from the UK Foreign Secretary.
According to the Interfax news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing: "I would not call the authors of these statements by name, although it was the British foreign minister."
He is said to have complained: “Statements were made by various representatives at various levels on possible altercations or even collisions and clashes between Nato and Russia.
"We believe that such statements are absolutely unacceptable.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’s official spokesman hit back, saying: “It remains the case that the rhetoric we’re seeing from Putin’s regime is designed to distract from the situation on the ground. That is very much our focus.”
Boris Johnson will fly out to Poland and Estonia for crisis talks over the escalating conflict in Ukraine.
Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister would visit the region on Tuesday for meetings with allies and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
The Russian offensive in Ukraine has entered its fifth day, with Vladimir Putin's forces targeting the capital Kyiv and major cities of Kharkiv and Chernihiv.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned the invasion was likely to become "more violent" as Russia resorts to more brutal tactics to advance.
It was not immediately clear which statements by Ms Truss the Kremlin was referring to.
The Foreign Secretary said yesterday that she would "absolutely" support British volunteers going to fight with Ukrainians, in comments later slapped down by fellow Tory ministers.
She also warned the conflict could escalate into a clash between Russia and NATO allies.
She told Sky News: “We are not just fighting for the people of Ukraine and the sovereignty and self-determination of Ukraine.
“This long-running conflict is about freedom and democracy in Europe because if we don’t stop Putin in Ukraine, we are going to see others under threat – the Baltics, Poland, Moldova and it could end up in a conflict with NATO.”
But a Foreign Office source told the BBC : "I don't think anything Liz has said warrants that sort of rhetoric or escalation."
They said the foreign secretary had always spoken about Nato as a "defensive alliance" and that the UK needed to support Ukraine.
A government source told the Mirror: "It's clearly a distraction technique from slower than expected progress of the invasion".
Allies suggested Ms Truss was being “singled out” because of the strength of the UK response to the crisis.
Elsewhere, Boris Johnson’s spokesman was forced to clarify Britain is not seeking “regime change” in Russia after he told journalists sweeping sanctions are designed to "bring down the Putin regime".
The official spokesman said: “The measures we are introducing, that large parts of the world are introducing, are to bring down the Putin regime.”
But he later added: "We’re not seeking anything in terms of regime change. What we’re taking about here, clearly, is how we stop Russia seeking to subjugate a democratic country. That’s been the message throughout. This is simply about preventing an unwarranted attack on a democratic country.”
Yesterday the Foreign Secretary said she'd support Brits who decide to flock to the eastern European state to help Ukrainians fight for freedom and democracy.
Ms Truss was responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensk's promise to arm foreign volunteers who to travel to his country to battle Putin’s forces.
Asked on the BBC's Sunday Morning programme if she would support UK citizens who chose to answer the call, Foreign Secretary Ms Truss said: "That is something people can make their own decisions about.
"The people of Ukraine are fighting for freedom and democracy, not just for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe.
"Absolutely, if people want to support that struggle I would support them in doing that."
But Boris Johnson's spokesman said while "we fully recognise the strength of feeling in British people wanting to support Ukrainians," he pointed to Foreign Office advice adding: "We firmly advise against travel to Ukraine".
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who served in the Scots Guards, said there were "better ways" for Britons to help.
Mr Wallace told Sky News Ms Truss was right that it was a "just cause", but added: "If you're keen to help and you're a United Kingdom citizen, come and join our armed forces.
"Look, there are people who will go... I think what I would say is unless you are properly trained, unless you are a, you know, experienced member of an armed forces, I think there are better ways for you to contribute to the security of Ukraine."
Former Cabinet minister Robert Buckland warned "turning up there with good intentions" and seeking to get involved without any legal authority "could worsen" the situation.
British Government insiders believe Mr Putin expected to sweep through the country and Russian forces have been caught off guard by the level of opposition from Ukraine.
Boris Johnson opened Cabinet by saying Vladimir Putin had made a "colossal mistake" believing his troops would be "garlanded with roses" by Ukrainians.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The Prime Minister said it is becoming clearer with each day that Putin had made a colossal mistake believing that the guns of his tanks would be garlanded with roses when instead the Ukrainian people had put up a fierce resistance in defence of their homeland.
"He said latest intelligence suggested Putin's advances had been hampered by logistical problems and the heroic efforts of the Ukrainian military who are inflicting significant casualties on Russian troops."
Western officials believe President Putin has become increasingly isolated, with aides possibly too afraid to deliver bad news as his behaviour becomes more irrational.
They are not hopeful that peace talks today will achieve their goal unless Russia reverses its invasion.
Last week Ms Truss ended a meeting with Russia’s ambassador early and said he should be “ashamed” of his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday put Russian nuclear deterrent forces on high alert amid tensions with the West over Ukraine.
Putin told state TV that NATO powers have made "aggressive statements" along with the West imposing hard-hitting financial sanctions against Russia, including the president himself.
He ordered the Russian defence minister and the chief of the military's General Staff to put the nuclear deterrent forces in a "special regime of combat duty".
The US Ambassador to the United Nations said Putin's order shows the Russian leader is "escalating conflict in a manner that is unacceptable".
Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: "It means that President Putin is continuing to escalate this war in a manner that is totally unacceptable. "We have to continue to stem his actions in the strongest possible way."
Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Commons Defence Select Committee urged the Government to start rolling out sanctions "every day" on Russia to block Putin's political ambitions in Ukraine.
Mr Ellwood told the BBC : "If I have a concern I would not put it beyond Putin to stoop to radical tactics to secure victory. He can't fail and the stakes are very very high indeed.
"We need to continue to support Ukraine not just with hard power but with humanitarian aid as well.”
