Foreign Secretary William Hague admitted yesterday that Britain would pump money into a huge operation to shore up the shaky new anti-Russian regime in Ukraine.

Mr Hague revealed that a British team was already in the Ukrainian capital Kiev to organise technical assistance and support, including "reforms" to the investment climate and labour market.

Labour MP Dennis Skinner complained that taxpayers were being asked to hand over money to Ukraine from "an austerity-riddled Britain."