Boris Johnson appears to be reassured by Liz Truss after PMQs

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The Foreign Secretary has said Russia will face “severe costs” should it invade their West-bordering neighbour after reports suggest the Russian government is looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv. The former Ukrainian MP Yevhen Murayev is being considered as a potential candidate.

Making clear Britain’s stance, the UK foreign secretary tweeted: “We will not tolerate the Kremlin plot to install pro-Russian leadership in Ukraine.

“The Kremlin knows a military incursion would be a massive strategic mistake & the UK and our partners would impose a severe cost on Russia.”

On Saturday, Ms Truss released a statement in which she publicly named released Yevhen Murayev, a former Ukrainian MP, as the Kremlin’s preferred candidate to take over the country following an invasion.

Officials also named four former Ukrainian ministers alleged to be colluding with Russian intelligence officers, including spies involved in planning an attack.

She said: “The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking.

“Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy.

“As the UK and our partners have said repeatedly, any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs.”

The warning came as the US and Russia held urgent talks in a bid to avert further conflict on Ukraine’s border.

She said: “The information being released today shines a light on the extent of Russian activity designed to subvert Ukraine, and is an insight into Kremlin thinking.

“Russia must de-escalate, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue a path of diplomacy.

“As the UK and our partners have said repeatedly, any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake with severe costs.”

The warning came as the US and Russia held urgent talks in a bid to avert further conflict on Ukraine’s border.

Russia denies it is planning an invasion but has moved 100,000 troops near to its border with Ukraine.

The UK Government said that its stance on Ukraine is clear.

The Government said: “We unequivocally support its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, including Crimea.

“Ukraine is an independent, sovereign country.”

President Vladimir Putin has made a series of demands to the West, insisting Ukraine should never be allowed to join NATO and that it must abandon military activity in eastern Europe.

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NATO’s 30 members – including the UK, US and several former Soviet Union states which share a border with Russia – agree that an armed attack against one is an attack against them all, and they will come to the aid of one another.

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