Liz Truss says Government believes it is 'highly likely' Putin is looking to invade Ukraine

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the Government believes it is “highly likely” that Russian president Vladimir Putin is looking to invade Ukraine.

She told the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme: “We think it’s highly likely that he is looking to invade Ukraine. That is why we’re doing all we can through deterrence and diplomacy to urge him to desist. That’s why we are strengthening our sanctions regime here in the United Kingdom.

“We’re going to be introducing new legislation so that we can hit targets including those who are key to the Kremlin’s continuation and the continuation of the Russian regime.

“We’re also supplying and offering extra support into our Baltic allies across the Black Sea, as well as supplying the Ukrainians with defensive weapons.

“And the United Kingdom … is the largest contributor to Nato in Europe and we are the largest European Nato supporter of troops and defences in Europe".

Despite this, the Foreign Secretary said it is "highly unlikely" British troops will fight alongside Ukrainians.

Ms Truss was asked if she could rule out a scenario with British soldiers “on the ground”.

She said: “That’s very unlikely … and the Defence Secretary has been clear about that.”

Pressed on whether there is any scenario in which “British soldiers are fighting with Ukrainians” against Russian troops, she said: “That is very unlikely.

“This is about making sure that the Ukrainian forces have all the support we can give them, whether it’s intelligence support, whether it’s cyber support, whether it’s defensive weapons, which we have been supplying into Ukraine.”