Boris Johnson joined a scramble by the West last night to correct a speech blunder by Joe Biden which was interpreted as a ‘green light’ for Russia to invade Ukraine.
The US President had said Vladimir Putin would probably ‘move in’ but that a ‘minor incursion’ could cause in-fighting inside Nato over how to respond.
His remarks triggered panic in the Ukrainian capital Kiev and among Nato states.
Mr Johnson responded yesterday: ‘Be in no doubt that if Russia were to make any kind of incursion into Ukraine, on any scale whatever, I think that would be a disaster not just for Ukraine but for Russia. It would be a disaster for the world.’
And in a speech on Friday, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will accuse Russia of failing to ‘learn the lessons of history’ and predict an invasion of Ukraine ‘will only lead to a terrible quagmire and loss of life’.
Speaking on a diplomatic visit to Australia, she will say: ‘We need everyone to step up.
'Together with our allies we will continue to stand with Ukraine and urge Russia to de-escalate and engage in meaningful discussions.
'What happens in Eastern Europe matters for the world.’
Responding to Mr Biden’s remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: ‘We want to remind the great powers that there are no minor incursions and small nations.
'Just as there are no minor casualties and little grief from the loss of loved ones.’
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (pictured) will accuse Russia of failing to ‘learn the lessons of history’ and predict an invasion of Ukraine ‘will only lead to a terrible quagmire and loss of life’
A satellite image shows equipment deployed at Klimovo Railyard in Klimovo, Russia, on Wednesday
Battle group deployments at the Pogonovo training area in Voronezh, Russia, amid rising tensions over an invasion of Ukraine
Service members fire a salute during a ceremony in tribute to fallen defenders of Ukraine on Thursday
Ukrainian soldiers stand at their Hamvee on the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels, in Mariupol, Donetsk region, on Thursday
A Ukrainian soldier stands in the trench on the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels
President Joe Biden has warned Russia's Vladimir Putin that the U.S. could impose new sanctions against Russia if it takes further military action against Ukraine
An Ukrainian soldier walks on the line of separation from pro-Russian rebels in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Thursday
Moscow has for weeks been massing tens of thousands of troops, tanks and artillery pieces along its eastern flank, sparking fears of an invasion, though the Kremlin has insisted it is merely a defence force (pictured, Russian forces currently massed in border regions)
A map showing the route the six landing ships could possibly be taking from Russia's second Baltic Sea base Kronstadt to Ukraine ahead of a 'full-scale invasion'. The vessels were pictured at the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark on Monday and, if heading to Ukraine, are likely to have already transited the Channel
Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops on its borders with Ukraine, with an imminent assault feared. The Kremlin denies it is planning an attack, but says it could take unspecified military action if its security demands are not met.
Mr Putin wants a veto on new Nato members and for Western troops to withdraw from former Soviet republics.
In a media briefing on Wednesday, the gaffe-prone US President suggested Mr Putin would get off lightly if troops went into Ukraine’s eastern regions but stopped there.
He said: ‘Russia will be held accountable if it invades – and it depends on what it does.
‘It’s one thing if it is a minor incursion and we end up having to fight about what to do and what not to do... It’s very important that we keep everyone in Nato on the same page.’
He added: ‘My guess is [Mr Putin] will move in, he has to do something.’ But afterwards, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said any Russian military invasion would be met by a ‘swift, severe and united response’ by Nato.
Six Russian landing ships (pictured, landing ship Minsk near the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark en route to the North Sea) have sailed past Britain sparking speculation they are bound for an impending 'full-scale invasion' of Ukraine
The region has been on a knife-edge since the end of last year when Moscow moved as many as 100,000 troops, as well as tanks and missiles, close to the border (pictured, a battle group deployment in Voronezh, Russia, near the Ukrainian border on January 19)
Satellite images dated January 19 show a battlegroup deployed at Voronezh base around 200 miles from the Ukraine border as Moscow ramps up a military build up along the frontier in preparation for a 'nine-month war'
One Ukraine official said Mr Biden’s comment ‘stunned’ Kiev, adding: ‘This gives Putin the green light to invade at his pleasure.’
Other Western security sources said it was a ‘gift to Putin’. Mr Biden sought to clarify the US position last night.
‘If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion,’ he said, adding it will be met by a ‘severe and coordinated’ economic response that has been discussed in detail with allies and laid out to Mr Putin.
This mumbling, stumbling President is a clear and present danger to world peace: The security of Europe is on a knife-edge, the credibility of the United States is on the line... and America's allies are looking for a cool head, writes DOMINIC GREEN
By Dominic Green in Boston Massachussetts for The Daily Mail
The message was unmistakable. At his first press conference since November — an event that was meant to be a reset for a presidency that has already had more resets than a dud satellite box — Joe Biden gave Vladimir Putin the green light to attack Ukraine.
That’s what I heard when I watched his mumbling, stumbling performance on Wednesday afternoon. It’s what millions of Americans heard — and it’s what Vladimir Putin was waiting to hear.
Biden said that Russia ‘will be held
