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Boris Johnson today warned Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine will be a 'painful, violent and bloody business' as the UK pulled staff from its embassy in Kiev.

The PM delivered the stark message as he admitted that the prospects of averting a confrontation in the area were 'gloomy'. 

Russia has stirred the pot by announcing live-fire naval drills off the coast of Ireland next month, amid rapidly escalating tensions with the West. There are concerns that any escalation of the stand-off will send gas prices spiralling again, with threats of punitive sanctions against Moscow.

Speaking on a visit to a hospital in Milton Keynes as NATO ministers held crisis talks in Brussels, Mr Johnson said the Kremlin must realise that Ukraine could be a 'new Chechnya'.