Cameron threatens Putin with new sanctions

The Prime Minister acknowledged the concerns about adding to tensions with Russian president Vladimir Putin but insisted turning a blind eye to his actions was not an option.

Mr Cameron is due to join world leaders including President Putin at a G20 summit in Australia later this week.

Speaking at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in the City of London, the Prime Minister said: “Russia’s actions pose a grave danger to the rest of Europe.

“Here in this building – with its history shaped by the Blitz – we shouldn’t need to be reminded of the consequences of turning a blind eye when big countries in Europe bully smaller countries.”

During the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev warned that the world is on the brink of a new Cold War.

Mr Cameron said he would be telling President Putin that was not his aim.

“But I will also be clear that if Russia continues on its current path, then we will keep upping the pressure and Russia’s relationship with the rest of the world will be radically different in the future,” he said.

“Of course there will be those who will argue that we should just draw a line under what has happened and that our own economy will suffer if we don’t. But they are wrong.

“If we allow such a fundamental breach of our rules based system to go unchecked then in the long run we will suffer more instability and ultimately be worse off as a result.”