Talking On The Phone: President Putin Complains About NATO Military Expansion In Ukraine, PM Johnson Warns Of Consequences

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson with President Vladimir Putin. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/Russian Presidential Executive Office)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday that members of the NATO military alliance are threatening Russia by expanding activities in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.

US intelligence estimates that Russia could plan a multi-front attack on neighboring Ukraine as early as next year, involving up to 175.000 troops.

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.

"Vladimir Putin provided a detailed outline of his main evaluation of the current situation around Ukraine," the Kremlin said of the phone call with PM Johnson, citing Reuters December 14.

"It is underlined that all this is happening against the backdrop of an active military 'expansion' on the territory of Ukraine by NATO countries, which creates a direct threat to Russia's security," the Kremlin said.

Meanwhile, PM Johnson warned Putin that any destabilizing action against Ukraine would be a strategic mistake with significant consequences, said 10 Downing Street (the official residence of the British PM).

Downing Street said PM Johnson "stressed the UK's commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty and warned that any destabilizing action would be a strategic mistake that would have significant consequences".

"He (PM Johnson) expressed Britain's deep concern over the build-up of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border, and reiterated the importance of working through diplomatic channels to reduce tensions and identify durable solutions."