United Kingdom Foreign Minister Liz Truss on Monday said that the UK and its NATO allies were speeding up preparations for the worst-case scenario in Ukraine.

The scenario in view of what she claimed was a highly likely Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“Diplomacy must be pursued but a Russian invasion of Ukraine looks highly likely.

“The UK and allies are stepping up preparations for the worst-case scenario,” Ms Truss wrote on her Twitter account.

She made this known after meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, but did not provide any details about what kind of preparations were underway.

The UK foreign secretary also repeated threats that Western powers would impose severe economic sanctions against Russia in the event of a military incursion into Ukraine’s territory.

“We must make the cost for Russia intolerably high,” Ms Truss added.

Russia had repeatedly denied Western claims of its alleged preparations for an invasion of Ukraine.

Russia emphasised there was no threat to Ukraine but expressed concerns that NATO’s military activity near its borders was a threat to Russia’s national security.

(Sputnik/NAN)