Firmly Warns Russia Not To Invade Ukraine, UK Defense Secretary: I Don't Want To See War

JAKARTA - Britain's defense secretary called on Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to step back from the Ukraine gulf, warning Moscow would face severe long-term consequences if its forces attacked its neighbour.

"Any actions by Russia to threaten Ukraine's sovereignty will not only have severe consequences, they will have long-term consequences for Russia," Defense Minister Ben Wallace said.

Minister Wallace called on Kremlin Leader President Putin to step back from any move he said could spark a deadly civil war on the edge of Europe.

"I would just urge him to think again, I don't think Russia wants those consequences," Wallace said.

"I don't want to see civil war or war on the edge of Europe," he said.

Minister Wallace said Russia's claims about the NATO siege were nonsense.

"Only 6 percent of Russia's land borders are bordered by NATO countries, it's barely surrounded by NATO," said Minister Wallace.

"NATO is a defensive alliance and it is in the articles of our founding. It is only there to defend itself and its members if they are going to be attacked," he continued.

Minister Wallace underlined the right of sovereign states and NATO members if they join NATO, not join Russia.

For information, US intelligence assesses Russia could plan a multi-front attack on Ukraine as early as next year, involving up to 175.000 troops.

Separately, the Kremlin denies its plans to attack and says the West is gripped by Russophobia. Moscow says NATO's expansion threatens Russia and has violated the guarantees it was given when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.