Liz Truss channeled the Iron Lady again today as she faced off with Russian counterpart Serge Lavrov in Moscow.
The Foreign Secretary delivered a tough message that the Kremlin must to 'stop the Cold War rhetoric' and step back from a 'disastrous' invasion of Ukraine during tense talks.
She warned that Kiev must not be 'bullied', demanding Russia backs up its claims about having 'no plans' to breach its neighbour's border with 'actions'.
But in the discussions and a joint press conference Mr Lavrov launched a series of barbs, dismissing 'ultimatums and moralising' from the West and comparing their conversation to a 'deaf and a mute'.
'Ideological approaches, ultimatums and moralizing is a road to nowhere,' the notorious political bruiser said.
Ms Truss observed that she had definitely not been mute in their discussions, and urged a 'diplomatic' solution.
The brutal exchanges came as Boris Johnson embarked on his own trip to Nato HQ in Brussels and then Poland, warning that Europe faces the 'most dangerous moment for decades' and the 'stakes are very high'.
Liz Truss (left) told Sergei Lavrov (right) to 'stop the Cold War rhetoric' and de-escalate the crisis
Liz Truss (right) told Sergei Lavrov (left) today that Kiev must not be 'bullied' and there would be 'massive consequences' for invasion
But in the discussions and a joint press conference Mr Lavrov launched a series of barbs, dismissing 'ultimatums and moralising' from the West and comparing their conversation to a 'deaf and a mute'
Notorious political bruiser Mr Lavrov swiped: 'Ideological approaches, ultimatums and moralizing is a road to nowhere.'
Ms Truss is on a two-day visit to Moscow, and took part in a wreath-laying ceremony earlier
Ukraine forces stand guard in the eastern region of Donetsk yesterday amid the tensions with Russia
The Foreign Secretary arrived in Russia last night, donning a furry hat in the sub-zero temperatures that immediately evoked comparisons with Margaret Thatcher.
And after another 1,000 British troops were put on standby to fly to the troubled region, Ms Truss told Mr Lavrov: 'The reality is we cannot ignore the build-up of over 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border and the attempts to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
'Fundamentally, a war in Ukraine would be disastrous for the Russian and Ukrainian people, and for European security.
And, together, Nato has made it clear that any
