Boris Johnson is cutting short a trip to Cumbria to return to Downing Street as the Ukraine crisis continues.
The Prime Minister has said we are on the 'edge of a precipice' but there was still time Vladimir Putin to step back amid fears of a Russian invasion.
Mr Johnson will return to Downing Street and not stay overnight in the region, No 10 said.
He is to chair a full meeting of Cobra on Tuesday to consider the UK’s response to the crisis, following a Cobra emergency committee meeting to be held by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Monday.
A No 10 spokesman said: “This afternoon the Foreign Secretary will chair a (Cobra) meeting to discuss the consular response to the crisis in Ukraine following Friday’s update to travel advice.
“The Prime Minister will receive a security briefing from his intelligence chiefs today.
“Tomorrow the Prime Minister will chair a full meeting of (Cobra) to discuss the UK’s response to the current situation.”
Speaking to reporters today, Mr Johnson said Ukraine’s future membership of Nato could not be “bargained away” as he stressed the importance of continuing talks.
Mr Johnson told reporters: “I think it’s very important that we have a conversation, but what we can’t do is trade away the sovereign rights of the Ukrainians who aspire to Nato membership.
“That’s something that was a massive gain for our world. If you remember what happened in 1990, you had a Europe whole and free, countries could decide their own futures. We can’t bargain that away. It’s for the Ukrainian people.”
