BRAINTREE'S MP has said the UK can expect to see tougher sanctions against Russia after speaking in parliament.

James Cleverly MP, who serves as a Foreign Office minister said: "The UK Government’s actions are not limited to what the Prime Minister has currently announced.”

It comes as the UK and other NATO nations try to calm hostilities teetering on the Ukrainian boarder.

It is hopes the latest sanctions against Russia, which were announced today, will be enough to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russian troops are currently poised on the Ukrainian boarder with it feared war between the two nations could start at any moment.

Now, speaking in the House of Commons today, Mr Cleverly said the sanctions could get harsher.

He said: "We intend to escalate these sanctions, to ratchet up these sanctions, in response to what has already happened in order to deter further aggression and in order to stimulate (Vladimir) Putin to withdraw the troops from Ukraine.”

He said the changes would allow the Government “to impose sanctions on a much broader range of individuals and businesses who are or have been involved in… obtaining a benefit from, or supporting, the government of Russia” and would allow sanctions on a “huge scope of individuals and entities”, adding: "Should Russian stage any further invasion into Ukraine, we will not hesitate to implement comprehensive and unprecedented additional packages of sanctions in close coordination with our allies around the world.”

He added: “These measures will curtail the ability of the Russian state, Russian companies, Russian individuals, to raise funds on our markets and further isolate Russian banks.

"We will keep ratcheting up the pressure targeting more banks, more individuals, more companies, that are significant to the Kremlin.”

He added: “Vladimir Putin has chosen a path of international isolation.

"The measures that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister announced today demonstrate that they will bare a cost for doing so, and if they do not step back these measures will only increase.”