Russian invasion of Ukraine could spark refugee crisis that will 'end' the EU, warns Tory MP

Mass refugee crossing from Ukraine into the EU could spell the end of the trading bloc, an MP has said.

This comes as 100,000 Russian troops are stationed on the Ukrainian border, with an invasion "imminent" according to the Chair of the Defence Select Committee.

Conservative MP Karl McCartney said: "If Russia invades Ukraine, does he [Boris Johnson] see the potential as I do that it will lead to further refugees crossing from the Ukraine into the EU? So that Poland, Romania and Slovakia could see massive flows of displaced people?”

He added that this could lead to infighting among EU member states, and said: “If this massive flow of refugees happens it may well be the end of the EU.”

The Prime Minister said: “We have got to be conscious of the potential for the Kremlin to trigger exactly the kind of refugee crisis that he describes.”

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw said: “The Prime Minister is right to say that Western unity is key so could he explain why the UK began withdrawing some of our diplomats from Kyiv unlike the rest of Nato?”

Mr Johnson replied: “We are actually in lockstep with the United States, and as he knows we have kept at least 30 of our diplomats there, including Melinda Simmons, our outstanding ambassador, and the UK presence continues to be very strong in Kyiv but those are sensible precautionary steps.”

Chair of the Defence Select Committee told GB News in an exclusive interview, that it was "too early" to discuss the potential for migrant flows in the wake of an invasion.

However Tobias Ellwood, in an earlier interview with GB News said "there is potential" for a refugee crisis as Ukrainians seek to escape Russian forces.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs: “We have the potential to do very serious economic damage to Russia.”

His comments came as Conservative Bob Stewart asked: “If we really economically and financially strangle Russia with sanctions, Russia could well become bankrupt and this alone might be something to cause Mr Putin to blink before he gives agreement to using military power and turning it into force.”