David Cameron likened Russia’s actions in Ukraine to those of Nazi Germany yesterday, as he prepared for a tense showdown with Vladimir Putin.

The Prime Minister will use talks with the Russian president in Australia today to warn him he faces more sanctions and isolation from the West unless he stops trying to destabilise Ukraine.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Australian prime minister Tony Abbott in Canberra yesterday, Mr Cameron drew a direct comparison between Russia’s actions and the Nazi aggression that sparked the Second World War.

Prime Minister David Cameron, left, accused Vladimir Putin of acting like Nazi Germany over its aggression in Ukraine in a joint press conference in Canberra with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, right

‘Russia’s action in Ukraine is unacceptable,’ he said. ‘We have to be clear what we are dealing with. It is a large state bullying a smaller state in Europe.

‘We have seen the consequences in the past and we should learn the lessons.’

Mr Cameron said there was no ‘military solution’ to the Ukraine conflict. But he said Western sanctions were beginning to bite on Russia’s crippled economy – and warned they would be stepped up unless Mr Putin backed down.

He added: ‘I would still hope that Russia will see sense and allow Ukraine to develop as a free country.

‘If they do not then the relationship that Britain and the EU have with Russia will be very different. Russia needs to know that this can’t be like what happened in the past with other frozen conflicts where the world moved on. I don’t think the world can move on from what’s happened in Ukraine.’

Mr Cameron, pictured, said he hoped that Russia was prepared to allow Ukraine develop as a 'free country'

Vladimir Putin, left, arriving at the G20 conference in Brisbane, where he is under intense diplomatic pressure

His comments echo those made by Prince Charles on his tour of Canada this year. Mr Cameron also mocked Mr Putin for sending warships to Australia where world leaders are at the G20 summit.

It has caused consternation in Australia, with the Navy sending three warships of its own to the region in response.