David Cameron has compared Russia to Nazi Germany because of its actions in the Ukraine on the eve of a tense meeting with Vladimir Putin.
Mr Cameron will on Saturday night challenge Mr Putin about Russia’s continued acts of aggression in the Ukraine as it supplies heavy weapons and tanks to the separatists.
In a reference to World War II, Mr Cameron said that the world must “learn the lessons of history” and intervene to stop “a larger state bullying a smaller state”.
He said: “Russian action in Ukraine is unacceptable. We have to be clear about what we are dealing with. It is a large state bullying a smaller state in Europe.
“We have seen the consequences of that in the past and we should learn the lessons of history and make sure we don’t let it happen again.”
Mr Cameron is expected to meet Mr Putin in an unscheduled “brush-by” on Saturday evening.
Speaking in Canberra, Australia, the Prime Minister said he does not believe that there is a “military solution” to the crisis. He instead remains convinced that sanctions against Russia will have an impact.
He said: “You can see that with what’s happened to the Rouble, what’s happened to the Russian stock-market. We should use those sanctions in response to Russian action. I would still hope the Russians would see sense and recognise that they should allow Ukraine to develop into an independent and free country.
But if they don’t take that approach the relationship that Britain has with Russia, the European Union has with Russia will be very different. If Russia takes a positive approach towards Ukraine’s freedom we could see those sanctions removed. If Russia continues to make matters worse we could see those sanctions increase. It’s as simple as that.”
Relations between Mr Putin and western leaders have deteriorated further after Russia stationed warships off the coast of Australia in an apparent “show of force” ahead of the G20 meeting in Brisbane.
Earlier, Mr Cameron appeared to criticise Russia in an address to the Australian Parliament for adopting an “authoritarian” model of capitalism.
He said that democratic values such as the rule of law and a free press make Britain “strong”. He said: “We are democracies. We don’t shy away from self-criticism.
“We debate our mistakes in public. That can be painful, but it is so powerful.