Iain Duncan Smith says Russian invasion of Ukraine would be a 'threat to the way we live our lives'

Iain Duncan Smith has called on the UK government to stand up to countries such as Russia and China, as he expressed his fear over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Conservative MP says countries such as Germany have become "so dependent" on receiving gas from Russia in an exclusive interview with GB News.

He said: "We have failed to live with this properly, we have got to make big changes.

"If they [Russia] invade Ukraine, I think it is a threat to the way we live our lives.

"This is a democracy, this is a country that has the right to free choice, and there are no such things as ghastly Soviet spheres of influence.

"[Vladimir] Putin is turning out to be one of the most ghastly dictators that you can possibly imagine".

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson will “ramp up deterrence to avoid bloodshed” between Russia and Ukraine with a visit to the region in the coming days amid rising tensions, it is understood.

The Prime Minister is determined to “accelerate diplomatic efforts” during a trip in the coming days and will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin over a phone call.

It comes after he asked defence and security chiefs to consider further defensive military options in Europe during a high-level intelligence briefing on the situation last week.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister is determined to accelerate diplomatic efforts and ramp up deterrence to avoid bloodshed in Europe.

“He will reiterate the need for Russia to step back and engage diplomatically when he speaks to President Putin this week.”

This weekend, the Prime Minister will consider a range of options to alleviate Russian aggression in the region, including fresh deployments and bolstering Nato’s defences following a Ministry of Defence meeting.