Russia-Ukraine on brink as Putin considers ‘5 scenarios’ – including ‘nuclear armageddon’

Leading Russian analyst Andrei Ostalski suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin had not yet decided which of the five scenarios he would prefer to pursue. He suggested the most drastic of the war plans could go as far as “nuclear armageddon” as tension keeps rocketing. Mr Ostalski also claimed that a war between Russia and Ukraine was “highly likely.’ as Russian troops have amassed along the Ukraine border.

Mr Ostalski told BBC The Nine: “The first question of yours deals with the possible scenarios and as I understand it Mr Putin hasn’t decided himself which one of the five I am being told he is going to choose.

“So the first scenario will be impossibly an attempt by the Russian intelligence services to stage a coup d’etat.

“In Ukraine with the help of significant fifth column inside the political-military institutions in Ukraine.

“And then Mr Putin can play it by ear deciding by what kind of a force, or if at all he has to go to campaign to help so that this conspiracy to succeed.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Invading Ukraine from a Russian perspective is going to be a painful violent and bloody business.

 When asked by an Australian think tank what the UK had been doing to try and stop Russia, Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss said: “This week, the United Kingdom announced a new package of training, support, and defensive weapons for Ukraine to boost their defensive capabilities.

“And we’re working with our partners on high impact measures targeting the Russian financial sector, and individuals.

“We’re also strengthening our bilateral partnership following high-level talks in London in December – and we’re fostering new trilateral ties with Poland and Ukraine.

“We’re also pushing for alternatives in energy supply so that nations are less reliant on Russia for their gas.

“We need everyone to step up.

“Together with our allies, we will continue to stand with Ukraine and urge Russia to de-escalate.”