ANTI-WAR campaigners urged the government today to focus on defusing tensions in Ukraine after ministers advised Britons to leave the country amid claims that a Russian invasion could be imminent.

Peace & Justice Project founder Jeremy Corbyn said that the prospect of a ground war in Ukraine was appalling, warning that the “loss of life would be enormous.”

He added that the only beneficiaries would be “the arms manufacturers on all sides.”

Middle East Eye has reported on comments from the chief executives of arms firms Lockheed Martin and Raytheon welcoming the war scares, with Raytheon’s Greg Hayes saying the company would “see some benefit” and “opportunities for international sales” “because of the tensions in eastern Europe, the tensions in the South China Sea.”

Mr Corbyn branded the Tory approach reckless, adding that “this was not a time to support the government.”

Stop the War Coalition vice-chairman Chris Nineham told the Morning Star that if ministers were serious in their attempt to resolve the situation, “they would be trying to defuse tensions,” not talking up the aggressive posture of Nato.

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) general secretary Kate Hudson said that politicians were ratcheting up the tension and had “no right to play politics with people’s lives” when there is “the risk of conflict between nuclear-armed states.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are all taking part in a flurry of diplomatic activity over the next few days.

Today, Ms Truss chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency planning committee.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey warned that Russian missiles would start raining down on Ukraine “minutes after Putin gives the order.”

Meanwhile, Kiev’s ambassador to the Britain, Vadym Prystaiko, watered down a suggestion that his country could consider abandoning its ambition to join the Nato military alliance to avoid war with Russia.

Mr Prystaiko told BBC Radio 5 on Sunday night that Ukraine was being threatened and blackmailed and would consider “serious concessions,” including renouncing its goal of Nato membership.

Russia is said to have 130,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders, with the US claiming to suspect an impending invasion.

Moscow denies planning an invasion and Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Joe Biden’s White House of stoking hysteria.

Western leaders have threatened Moscow with a damaging package of sanctions in the event of an invasion but have insisted that they would not take part in any fighting there.