Boris Johnson flies to Poland to show NATO support amid Russia tensions

The troops will assist in the case of a humanitarian crisis in eastern Europe if the current Russian military build-up leads to war, Downing Street has announced.

The Prime Minister is to fly to Poland to show further support for the key NATO ally amid continuing fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is in Moscow for talks with her counterpart Sergei Lavrov as Western powers continue to urge President Vladimir Putin to draw back from any conflict.

Vladimir Putin. Credit: PA

1000 UK troops to go on standby in Eastern Europe, Downing Street says

British officials have warned that any further Russian incursion into Ukraine would be a “humanitarian disaster”.

A "disaster" that would lead to a mass displacement of people, which would particularly affect Eastern European countries like Poland and Lithuania.

Additional troops will provide a humanitarian response if necessary but they could also be used to provide support to allies in the region too. 

Earlier this week,  it was announced that 350 Royal Marines from 45 Commando are being deployed to Poland to help strengthen UK support to the country.

Back in December, the UK sent 100 Royal Engineers to Poland after Moscow’s ally Belarus engineered a refugee crisis on the border.

Ahead of his visit to Warsaw, Mr Johnson insisted the West must stand firm in the face of Mr Putin’s “coercive diplomacy”.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Credit: PA

Mr Johnson made clear that NATO could not accept a key Kremlin demand and that there should be no further enlargement of the alliance.

He said: “When Nato was founded, allies made a historic undertaking to safeguard the freedom of every member state.

“The UK remains unwavering in our commitment to European security. 

“What we need to see is real diplomacy, not coercive diplomacy.

“As an alliance we must draw lines in the snow and be clear there are principles upon which we will not compromise.

“That includes the security of every NATO ally and the right of every European democracy to aspire to NATO membership.”

What is Boris Johnson offering NATO amid Russia tensions?

The PM will also visit the alliance headquarters in Brussels where he is expected to repeat his offer to NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg about strengthening its defences.

Mr Johnson's proposals to NATO include:

• Doubling the number of UK troops in Estonia
• Deploying more RAF jets to create a squadron in southern Europe
• Dispatching a Type 45 destroyer and HMS Trent which is an offshore patrol vessel, located to the eastern Mediterranean.

Russia is estimated to have 130,000 troops massed along the border with Ukraine, prompting fears that the country is preparing for a full-scale invasion.

Liz Truss. Credit: PA (Image: PA)

French President Emmanuel Macron, who met Mr Putin in Moscow earlier this week, said the Russian president had told him he was not seeking to escalate the situation.

There are large-scale Russian military exercises due to begin in Belarus, which borders Ukraine, sparking fears that this could be cover for an attack.

While there is no appetite among Western powers for direct military intervention in Ukraine, which is not a NATO member, it has warned of crippling sanctions in the event of any Russian incursion.

After touching down in Moscow, Ms Truss said Russia must immediately withdraw its forces and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty or face “severe consequences”.

She added: “Any incursion would be a huge mistake.

“Diplomacy is the only way forward and Russia must pursue that path.”