Boris Johnson will seek to “ramp up deterrence to avoid bloodshed” between Russia and Ukraine with a visit to the region next week, The Independent understands.
The prime minister is determined to “accelerate diplomatic efforts” and will “reiterate the need for Russia to step back and engage diplomatically” in a phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Downing Street said.
It comes after Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky criticised the West’s “panic” over the build up of over 100,000 Russian troops on its border, claiming it is destabilising the economy.
Mr Zelensky opposed warnings in Western media of an impending Russian invasion, echoing his comments to Joe Biden, in which he questioned how “imminent” an attack might actually be, telling foreign reporters: “I’m the president of Ukraine, I’m based here and I think I know the details deeper than any other president.”
It comes as US sources told Reuters that Moscow has moved blood supplies to the Ukraine border alongside other medical reserves in support of the Russian troops amassed there – a move US officials warned was critical in determining whether Mr Putin was prepared to carry out a potential invasion.
