No one can deprive Ukraine of its sovereign right to join NATO - Johnson

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that no one can deprive Ukraine of its sovereign right to join NATO.

That's according to Reuters, Ukrinform reports.

"I think it is very important that we have a conversation [with Russia]. But what we can't do is trade away the sovereign rights of the Ukrainian people to aspire to NATO membership... you can't bargain that away - it is for the Ukrainian people," Johnson told reporters.

He also added that he would be talking to U.S. President Joe Biden "very soon" to help the diplomatic process.

"We have got to realize that this is a very, very dangerous, difficult situation. We are on the edge of a precipice but there is still time for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to step back, and what we are urging for is everybody to engage in dialogue," he said.

Earlier reports said that the United Kingdom was working to expand its military and economic assistance to Ukraine.

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