Prime Minister Stephen Harper says it’s time to rally the world against the danger posed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Harper is warning that peace and world stability are being threatened by the latest developments in Ukraine – in a way not seen since the end of the Cold War.

Harper is describing Russian actions against Ukraine as aggressive, militaristic and imperialistic – in the wake of pro-Russian insurgents occupying buildings in nearly 10 cities in eastern Ukraine.

Harper isn’t alone.

European Union Foreign Ministers are also speaking out against what they call “more Russian interference in Ukraine”.

And the acting President of Ukraine is calling for U-N peacekeeping troops to be deployed in the east of the country – to counter pro-Russian insurgents.

Meanwhile – Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says the occupation looks like a repeat of events that took place earlier this year in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

Baird will leave later this week to meet with Canada’s eastern European allies for consultations on what further steps they can take against Russia.