The British Army would “fight tonight” should a new war in Europe erupt, a senior military officer said.

Lieutenant General Rob Magowan, the deputy chief of the British Defence staff, said the UK Armed Forces would be ready to face their Russian counterparts at any point, if needed.

Speaking to the House of Commons defence committee on Thursday, Lt Gen Magowan said: “If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight.

“I don’t think anybody in this room should be under any illusion that if the Russians invaded Eastern Europe tonight, then we would meet them in that fight.”

This staunch warning to Moscow came as Russia continues to escalate tensions.