PM Johnson: Europe Needs To 'Remove Nord Stream II From Their Veins'

Speaking on the rising tensions between Russia and the West, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that 'what all European countries need to do now is remove Nord Stream II from their veins'. The as-yet non-operational NSII gas pipeline runs from Russia to Germany and has become a major bone of contention between some Western gov'ts and Germany.

• Russia hawks such as the UK have advocated terminating the project in an effort to punish Russia for its troop buildup on the Ukrainian border. However, Berlin has refused to do so, with major concerns there about the country's energy security without the pipeline going ahead.
• Johnson also says that the West must ready itself to 'impose some very, very severe economic consqeunces on Russia' in the event of an invasion of Ukraine.
• Comes as wires report an EU official has stated that the bloc does not know whether Moscow has made up its mind on invading Ukraine or whether it is 'bluffing' when it comes to the troop buildup.