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British troops could end up being sent to Ukraine if Donald Trump slashes US support for Kyiv, former prime minister Boris Johnson has said.

A Ukrainian defeat would lead to “an even bigger threat on our borders, the borders of the European continent wherever the democracies butt up against Russia”, he told GB News.

Johnson said the decision by the US, UK and other allies to support Ukraine was a “sensible investment” to protect “our collective security”.

If Russia has a resurgence due to a loss of support for Kyiv, this security would be “degraded”, he warned, adding that the UK would then have to pay to send British troops to help defend Ukraine.

During the interview Johnson also said Trump has “lots of different voices in his ears” on Ukraine – including some Republicans who are “entranced” by Vladimir Putin.

He noted the president-elect’s previous support for Ukraine, however.

Russia claims to capture village in eastern Ukraine

Russian forces have captured the village of Rivnopil in eastern Ukraine, state news agency RIA has cited the Russian defence ministry as saying.

The village lies in the Donetsk region, where Russia has been waging a major offensive for several months.

Moscow has reported a series of gains during the offensive, as its forces pursue their advance toward the strategic city of Pokrovsk – an important supply hub for Ukrainian forces.

On Sunday, Russia’s defence ministry claimed its forces had taken the Donetsk village of Vovchenka.

‘Confident’ Putin will see Trump’s re-election as way to end war ‘on his terms’

Vladimir Putin could see Donald Trump’s re-election as a way to strike a deal in Ukraine on his terms, a former Russian ambassador has said.

Boris Bondarev, a former member of Russia’s delegation to the UN in Geneva, told Sky News the Russian president may view it as a “chance to change the tide of the campaign in the Ukraine”.

Putin is “confident” in Russia’s positions on the front line, where Moscow’s troops are “advancing” and the Ukrainian defence is “crumbling”, said Mr Bondarev.

“And so Putin may hope that when Trump is in office at last, [he] will be in a very strong position to dictate his terms. 

“Of course, all deals and negotiations that may ensue on the peaceful settlement must be on Putin’s terms. That’s his position… there is no sign that he will change it.”

Asked whether Moscow could end up winning the war if it carried on for another year as it stands now, Mr Bondarev said it was “hard to predict” as there are questions over whether Russia’s economy could survive.

“But it is quite evident that the Ukrainian economy and Ukrainian society is very tired as well,” he added.

“I’m afraid that if… the West allows Russia to wage its war for one to maybe three more years, Ukrainians will just get so exhausted that they will stop fighting.”