“The vote in the Russian parliament to approve Russian forces being mobilised is deeply concerning and represents a potentially grave escalation of the situation in Ukraine.

"In the critical hours and days ahead all efforts must be made to try to secure a diplomatic resolution to this crisis.

"The EU Foreign Affairs Council should convene in Brussels without delay, alongside the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, to ensure the international community is united in its support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the will of its citizens.

"The Ukrainian government has called for urgent negotiations to resolve the crisis, in line with the terms of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum to which Russia is a signatory. The UK government must now urge President Putin to accept that call for dialogue before any taking any further action.”