Russia fears: Poland and Ukraine could sparker wider conflict
Russia has stationed tens of thousands of troops close to the border in what US intelligence believes will amount to an attempt to invade in the coming weeks, as well as the allegedly orchestrated migrant crisis taking place on the Poland-Belarus border. Ukraine has now claimed some 100,000 Russian troops have gathered at the border.
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Mr Johnson said European nations need to choose between mainlining Russian gas and defending peace in Ukraine.
His words, contained in his pre-written Mansion House speech, appeared especially aimed at Germany, which has been working with Russia to finish the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
The Prime Minister said: “When we say that we support the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine that is not because we want to be adversarial to Russia, or that we want in some way strategically to encircle or undermine that great country.
“And never let it be forgotten, in this season of remembrance, that it was Russian blood that enabled us to defeat Nazism.
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“It is because we have a commitment to democracy and freedom that is shared now across the vast mass of the European continent.
“And when our Polish friends asked for our help to deal with a contrived crisis on their border with Belarus, we were quick to respond.”
Mr Johnson also took aim at Europe for backing the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline.
The pipeline will run from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea and is being proposed by Gazprom, a Russian energy company.
He said: “And we hope that our friends may recognise that a choice is shortly coming between mainlining ever more Russian hydrocarbons in giant new pipelines, and sticking up for Ukraine and championing the cause of peace and stability, let me put it that way.”