THE political rhetoric against Russia has intensified with David Cameron denouncing outright the unjustified presence of its troops on Ukrainian soil .

He also accused Moscow of trying to force its smaller neighbour to "abandon its democratic choices at the barrel of a gun".

His remarks came as it was announced Nato leaders are to consider, at this week's summit in Wales, the creation of a new high-readiness force and the stockpiling of military equipment and supplies in Eastern Europe.

They would be there to help protect member nations against potential aggression from Russia, a suggestion made recently by the House of Commons Defence Committee.

"The presence of Russian soldiers on Ukrainian soil is completely unjustified and unacceptable," said the Prime Minister in a Commons statement.

The real cause of this conflict, he told MPs, was Russia's refusal to recognise Ukraine's independence and sovereignty. Decisions on Ukraine's political and economic relationships should be for the people of Ukraine and no-one else. He said: "Russia appears to be trying to force Ukraine to abandon its democratic choices at the barrel of a gun. In the last two weeks, we've seen a dramatic stepping up of Russian military support to the separatists in eastern Ukraine, including Russian troops fighting on the ground.

"We know from European history the grave danger of a nation state being threatened and undermined in this way, so the European Council agreed that the economic costs it has already imposed on Russia must be stepped up if Moscow persists with these indefensible actions,"

Ed Miliband said "continued Russian aggression must be met with a robust, co-ordinated and united international response".