Europe braced for Russian INVASION as Putin masses troops on NATO borders

Accusing him of "unprecedented" aggression in Europe, they warned he was ready to risk it all in "a game without rules" against them.

It comes after British troops were sent to the Baltic amid fears Russia would invade the region in the same way it did Ukraine.

With NATO rules stipulating any attack on one member state is an attack on all, Britain could be plunged into a new world war.

Juozas Olekas, the Lithuanian minister of defence, hailed the UK for putting boots on the ground in his country.

He told Daily Star Online: "We would like to live in peace with Russia as our neighbours, but it depends on Russia's behaviour."

Naming other countries occupied by Kremlin forces, he said Lithuania had massively increased military spending and was already taking part in joint operations with British forces.

Army bosses in nearby Estonia said they had seen a "constant build up" of Putin's troops on NATO borders and branded his recent actions "unimaginable".

And while they think the strength of NATO will deter the Russian strongman, a spokesman warned: "Putin may miscalculate the strength of NATO’s bonds."

He said: "Russia has shown its willingness to use military force against its close neighbours – in 2008 in Georgia and since 2014 in Ukraine.

"It's clear that NATO cannot leave an obvious challenge to its security unattended.

"Russia’s behaviour is becoming increasingly harder to forecast which leads to the need to take steps to ensure our own security."

And he warned his country would use "any means to defend its freedom and independence."Defence chiefs in neighbouring Latvia accused Putin of undermining the international order, violating nations' territorial integrity and showcasing its might in the Baltic.

"Our main area of concern is Russia’s unpredictability," a government spokesman said.

"Its aggression in Ukraine proves that Russia is ready to use military force for political objectives and to risk international isolation.

(dailystar.co.uk)