UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is due to visit Kiev amid growing tensions after the Russian parliament approved the deployment of troops to Ukraine.
Mr Hague said he was "deeply concerned" and would "reiterate support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine".
Mr Hague summoned Russian ambassador Alexander Yakovenko to the Foreign Office (FCO) to hear the UK's reaction.
Prime Minister David Cameron has said there can be "no excuse" for outside military intervention in Ukraine.
'Condemn aggression'Mr Yakovenko was met by Political Director Simon Gass at the FCO on Saturday evening.
Mr Gass "expressed deep concern at the Russian Parliament's decision to authorise military action in Ukraine against the wishes of the Ukrainian government", said the FCO in a statement.
Former British Ambassador to Moscow Sir Tony Brenton, who served as British Ambassador from 2004 to 2008, told the BBC that Mr Hague must "damp down" the heightening tensions between the two countries.
He said: "He [the Russian President Vladimir Putin] has just seen his man, in effect, [Viktor] Yanukovych, overthrown by what he sees as a Western instigated revolt. He [Putin] is determined to maintain Russian influence in Ukraine as a whole, and he has now taken Crimea... hostage.
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Former British ambassador to Moscow, Sir Tony Brenton, says Crimea has been "taken hostage" by President Putin
"William Hague's job in Kiev today is to begin to damp down the dangers of things getting worse. There are two real problems, first of all Ukraine may overreact to the Russian occupation of Crimea and we could get into a shooting engagements, which would be deeply disastrous, and certainly wouldn't get the Russians out.
"And secondly other bits of eastern Ukraine are showing signs of unrest, the Ukraine government in Kiev needs to reassure those part of the country about their attention to the rights of the Russian minority there."
Labour leader Ed Miliband said there could be 'no justification' for Russian military action in Ukraine.
He told the BBC: "I think it is a deeply worrying situation.
"I believe diplomatic and economic pressure we can put on Russia is the best hope we can have for what everyone wants to see, which is the de-escalation of this crisis."
On Saturday, Mr Hague also said Russia's decision to deploy troops went against the wishes of the Ukrainian government.
"This action is a potentially grave threat to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We condemn any act of aggression against Ukraine," the foreign secretary said.
"I spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to urge steps to calm this dangerous situation. I told Minister Lavrov that Britain supports the Ukrainian government's request for urgent consultations in accordance with the 1994 Budapest Memorandum signed by the UK, US, Russia and Ukraine."
The Budapest Memorandum guaranteed Ukraine's territorial integrity following the break-up of the Soviet Union.
Mr Hague said he had also made clear the UK's support for Ukraine's new government when he spoke to the country's acting President Olexander Turchynov.
'Think carefully'The UK called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Saturday afternoon to address the crisis.
Mr Cameron said: "Britain views the developments in the Ukraine with growing concern. There can be no excuse for outside military intervention in Ukraine - a point I made to President Putin when we spoke.
"Everyone must think carefully about their actions and work to lower, not escalate tensions. The world is watching."
The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to Crimea, and urging British nationals in Crimea to leave by all practical means.
US President Barack Obama has told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Russia has flouted international law by sending troops to Ukraine.
In a 90-minute telephone conversation, Mr Obama urged the Russian leader to pull forces back to bases in Crimea.
Mr Putin responded by saying that Moscow reserved the right to protect its interests and those of Russian speakers in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.
Tensions have been high since Ukraine's elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, was ousted in a popular uprising on 22 February.
His removal from power followed four months of street protests that culminated in bloody clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
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