Ex-national security adviser issues warning amid fraying US-Ukraine relationship

Relations between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump are deteriorating (PA) Christopher McKeon 1 minute ago Ministers must do more to tell the public about the coming threat from Russia, a former national security adviser has warned as relations between the US and Ukraine continue to fray.

Lord Peter Ricketts is the latest senior security figure to warn about the threat of “hybrid” attacks by Moscow, saying eventually “people are going to land up being killed somewhere”.

And he urged ministers to provide more practical support for Ukraine, dismissing Andy Burnham’s suggestion that the UK could be a “bridge” between Kyiv and Washington after a week that saw relations between the two deteriorate sharply.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “I think they’ve really got to start a conversation with the British people about what may be coming, because not only is ( Russian president Vladimir) Putin trying to break morale in Ukraine, he’s also trying to undermine morale in European countries.”

The past week has seen warnings from both the head of MI5 , Sir Ken McCallum, and the head of the Army, General Sir Roly Walker.

On Tuesday, Sir Ken said MI5 was devoting more resources to combating threats from hostile states than it did during the Cold War and described Russia as the “number one aggressor”.

And on Friday, Sir Roly told troops at Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, that politicians would soon need to have a “frank conversation” about the “sacrifices” that would be needed to prioritise defence and security.

The warnings come against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between Ukraine and the US, with Donald Trump waiving yet more sanctions on Russia late on Friday.

The White House claimed the move was in US “national interests”, despite Mr Trump previously endorsing the round of tough new sanctions that had been due to come into effect on Sunday.

Earlier this month, Mr Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel in an effort to bring down fuel prices ahead of American mid-term elections that threaten significant losses for his Republican Party.

Mr Trump has also suggested Volodymyr Zelensky should be replaced as Ukrainian president, claimed he is “more difficult to deal with than Putin”, and refused to say the Russian president started the war.

Somerville refuses to commit to devolving new powers to Scottish councils

British troops to take part in major Ukraine-facing wargame next month

The row has sparked concerns the US may have stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv, and seen the Ukrainian military’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink system restricted, inhibiting its ability to intercept Russian drone and missile attacks.