Russia conducting military exercises on a scale never seen before, military chief warns
Russia is conducting military exercises on a scale "never seen before" on the Ukrainian border, the head of the UK Armed Forces has warned.
Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin addressed a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Downing Street said.
It came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson flew to Ukraine in a bid to quell tensions between Russia and the former Soviet state.
But before boarding his flight Mr Johnson told his Cabinet that the situation was "deeply concerning and that there were no indications of Russia de-escalating with more than 100,000 troops currently amassed on Ukraine's border".
Adm Sir Tony said "a significant proportion of Russia's land combat power was now gathered on the western border, coupled with deterrence operations such as military exercises on a scale never seen before".
Number 10 said he warned this "fitted into a pattern of coercion and intimidation that sought to undermine the values and principles of the West".
Mr Johnson is expected to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, where it is thought he will again urge the leader to dial down the aggression.
A planned call on Monday had to be rescheduled due to the Prime Minister defending himself in Westminster over the 'partygate' allegations engulfing Downing Street.
In Kyiv, Mr Johnson will discuss with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the support the UK can offer before the two leaders hold a joint press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Last month, the Defence Secretary said the UK had supplied Ukraine with light-armour defensive weapons systems amid the tensions, with British troops providing training to the Ukrainian forces.
The UK currently has about 100 trainers in Ukraine.
Over the weekend, it was revealed a major British military deployment – including fast jets and warships – was expected to become part of the UK's offer to NATO in Eastern Europe amid the rising tensions.
Mr Johnson, who travelled on a chartered plane from Stansted with staff and a small pool of journalists late on Tuesday morning, last spoke to the Russian leader in December.
The Government announced overnight that £88m in aid would be sent to Ukraine to support the country.
The cash – part of the UK's Good Governance Fund – will help "support stable governance and energy independence", by supporting transparency and anti-corruption initiatives and efforts to reduce Ukraine's reliance on Russian energy supplies.
Watch: How likely is a Russian invasion of Ukraine?
But the cash injection and the Prime Minister's visit have been criticised as being too little too late.
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran said: "Britain deserves so much better than having Boris Johnson represent us on the world stage.
"He's been missing in action while war looms in Europe – and while he might be playing catch-up now, it's too little, too late.
"This is the man who picked pleading with his backbenchers over talking tough to Vladimir Putin. He's spent the last month phoning wavering Tory MPs when he should have been meeting foreign leaders," she added.
Labour's shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said: "The situation in Ukraine is immensely serious. We want diplomacy to succeed.
"This crisis requires the attention of a focused Prime Minister, but Boris Johnson is playing catch-up and the Government is in disarray.
"Yesterday he missed a call with Putin because he was in Parliament defending the indefensible," he added.
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