Russia-Ukraine tensions: Britain accuses Putin of plotting to elect pro-Moscow man in Ukraine
Britain has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of plotting to appoint a pro-Moscow figure to lead the Ukrainian government.
The British Foreign Office has taken an unusual step in naming former Ukrainian MP Yohan Morayev as a possible Kremlin candidate.
Ukrainian politician Yohan Morayev also owns a media outlet in the country and lost his seat in the Ukrainian parliament after his party failed to get 5% of the vote in the 2019 elections.
Russia has deployed 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, but has denied any involvement in the attack.British ministers have warned Russia that it could face "serious consequences" if its government takes aggressive action against Ukraine. British Foreign Secretary Liz Trose said in a statement that "the information that is being released today sheds light on Russia's plan to destroy Ukraine, and is a reflection of the Kremlin's thinking." '
He further added that "Russia should reduce tensions and end its aggression and misinformation adventures and take the path of diplomacy." "As the United Kingdom and our partners have repeatedly stated, Russia's military intervention in Ukraine would be a major strategic mistake that would have to pay a heavy price," the statement added.
The British Foreign Office also named four other Ukrainian politicians who were said to be in contact with Russian intelligence services.
The State Department says some people are working with Russia on its plan to invade Ukraine.
They include Mikola Azarov, who served as prime minister under pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych who was ousted in 2014.
Mikola Azarov then fled to Russia, where he established a puppet government in exile. He was subsequently subject to international sanctions and was issued a red warrant by Interpol on charges of corruption and embezzlement by the Ukrainian government.
The British Foreign Office also named Vladimir Sevkovich, a former deputy head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, who this week allegedly faced US sanctions for working with Russian intelligence.
Also on the list are Serhiy Arbuzov and Andrei Kluyev, both of whom served as deputy prime ministers under Yanukovych.
Earlier, the head of Britain's House of Commons defense committee said Britain should provide more assistance to Ukraine in the event of Russia deploying "war-ready" troops on the Ukrainian border.
Tobias Elwood said Russian President Vladimir Putin was "taking full advantage of the West's weakness."
"We (the West) are looking a bit weak and scared and I suspect that Russia is close to attacking now," he told the BBC.
"Russian President Putin wants to change the map of Eastern Europe," he warned. According to the intelligence agencies of Ukraine and Western countries, a possible attack by Russia could take place sometime in early 2022.
Russia, meanwhile, has sent 90 tonnes of military aid to Ukraine amid growing tensions over troop increases along the Ukrainian border.
The military aid is part of a package approved by the United States for Ukraine, which includes ammunition for "frontline troops." The aid comes as US Secretary of State Anthony Blankenship visited the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, this week, where he warned of a full-blown Russian response.
Moscow has denied reports of plots to invade Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden approved a کروڑ 200 million security assistance package in December. The U.S. embassy in Kiev said in a statement that the aid was "an expression of Ukraine's right to self-determination."
The embassy wrote in a statement on Facebook that "the United States will continue to provide such assistance to Ukraine's armed forces so that they can defend their border sovereignty and integrity against Russian aggression."
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov thanked the United States for its assistance.
The aid arrived in Ukraine just hours after a "frank" meeting between the Russian and US foreign ministers. The purpose of the meeting is to try to limit the major conflict in Ukraine. In 2015, a weak peace agreement was signed between the two countries.
However, the head of the NATO military alliance has warned that there is a danger of a new conflict in Europe as Russia has deployed 100,000 troops on Ukraine's border.
Doctor Sajjad Ameer