The US has said that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be horrific and would lead to a significant number of casualties.<br />''<br />''Addressing a Press Conference at Pentagon yesterday, US President Joe Biden's most senior military officer General Mark Milley described the build-up of 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine's border as the largest since the Cold War. He warned that the scale of Russia's forces near its border with Ukraine meant an attack would have severe consequences.<br />'' <br />''However , US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said conflict could still be avoided through the use of diplomacy. Russia denies plans to invade and says US support for Ukraine is a threat.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will telephone Russian President Vladimir Putin and visit Eastern Europe in the coming days as the UK steps up its diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine border crisis.</span> <br />''The Prime Minister Office said Mr. Johnson would repeat the need for Russia to engage diplomatically when he speaks to Mr Putin this week.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Mr Johnson has said the UK could deploy troops to protect Nato allies if Russia invaded Ukraine.</span><br />