‘Prepared for an escalation’

President Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday Ukraine was ready to take on Russia if Moscow decides to move troops across the border, amid growing Western concern over a new Russian military buildup.

"There is a threat today that there will be war tomorrow," Zelensky told a news conference. "We are entirely prepared for an escalation."

"We need to depend on ourselves, on our army. It is powerful," he added.

Western countries have this month raised alarm over reported Russian military activity near Ukraine, reports AFP.

Moscow has dismissed growing Western claims that Russia may be preparing to invade Ukraine, accusing Nato of provocations.

Zelensky also said Ukraine has uncovered a plot for an attempted coup with the involvement of Russians, due to have taken place next week.

He did not give full details of the coup plot and did not accuse the Russian state of involvement, though he also spoke at length at the press conference of a threat of Russian military escalation, and said Ukraine would be ready for it.

The Kremlin swiftly denied any role in any coup plot, saying it had no plans to take part in such acts, reports Reuters.

"We have challenges not only from the Russian Federation and possible escalation - we have big internal challenges. I received information that a coup d'etat will take place in our country on Dec. 1-2," Zelenskiy said.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned Russia that it will "pay dearly" for an invasion.

The Ukrainian army has come a long way since 2014, when it was caught off guard by Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Ukraine and its Western allies also accused Russia of sending troops and arms across the border to support separatists who carved out two statelets in the east, but Moscow has denied those claims.