Putin ‘hell-bent’ on invading Ukraine, says Truss
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is “hell-bent” on invading Ukraine.
Challenged on whether the current UK sanctions are tough enough to stop the Russian state financing the military, she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “One of the banks that we’ve sanctioned is the bank that finances the Russian military, so we are absolutely taking that step.
“I believe that Putin is hell-bent on invading Ukraine. This is about inflicting pain on Putin and degrading the Russian economic system over time, targeting people that are close to Putin. But if you’re asking me is he paying attention, my view is that he wants to invade, this is a long-standing plan.
“And what we have to do is make it as painful as possible, both by supplying support to the Ukrainian government in terms of defensive weapons, in terms of economic support, and by imposing economic costs.”
Truss: Putin’s plans ‘do not stop at Ukraine’
Foreign secretary Liz Truss as said Vladimir Putin’s plans “do not stop at Ukraine”.
She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme: “The mood in Ukraine over the last 10 years has turned hugely against the Russian regime. This is not going to be easy for Vladimir Putin. They are ready to fight.
“I’ve been having discussions with the Ukrainian government, and we have been providing that support and training to Ukraine. This could go on, I’m afraid to say, for years – we are likely to see a full-scale invasion and Ukraine will fight.
“The point I was making is it is important that we strengthen the eastern flank of Nato countries, that we support the Baltic states, that we support other Nato members to make sure their defences are fully protected, because Putin’s plans do not stop at Ukraine.
“That is why it’s important that we see strong Ukrainian resistance, and it’s also why it’s important that we strengthen Nato’s forces.”
Govt must take action that Putin is ‘not expecting’
Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said the Government needs to take action that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “not expecting”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “We do need to go further, and I suspect the Government wanted to. They’ve been pretty robust in what they’ve said but it’s very important to go in lockstep with our allies in a situation like this.
“But what we have to remember is that Putin has both predicted these sanctions, and indeed further sanctions, and discounted them.
“If we are going to avoid being two steps behind in the diplomatic chess game, we have to do some things that he’s not expecting.
“The most important is to do sanctions – economic and financial sanctions – that are tough enough and last long enough to reduce the ability of the Russian state to finance the Russian military.”
Ukrainian Premier League champion vows ‘we will not give up’
Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko has vowed that Ukraine “will not give up” and spoke of his concern over a Russian invasion.
The Premier League champion, from Radomyshl, is among the first football stars to speak out about the crisis.
Writing on Instagram alongside a map of Ukraine, he said: “The whole civilized world is worried about the situation in my country. I can’t stay away and try to convey my opinion.
“In the photo – my country. The country where I was born and raised. A country whose colours I defend in the international sports arena.
“A country that we try to glorify and develop. A country whose borders must remain inviolable. My country belongs to Ukrainians and no one will ever be able to appropriate it. We will not give up! Glory to Ukraine.”
No10 calls in finance bosses to discuss whether sanctions are effective
Downing Street and the Treasury have called in finance bosses and regulators to discuss whether new sanctions imposed on Russia are effective, according to reports.
It is likely that Johnson will announce some additional military support for Ukraine, a source told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.
Britain on Tuesday imposed sanctions on five Russian banks, Gennady Timchenko and two other billionaires with close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
PM ‘completely cooperating’ with police inquiries into No10 parties
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the Prime Minister is “completely co-operating” with police inquiries in relation to allegations of rule-breaking parties in Downing Street.
Asked if Boris Johnson should resign if he is found to have broken the law, she told Sky News: “The PM is completely co-operating with the police inquiries that are taking place.
“I support the PM 100 per cent… I think he’s doing a fantastic job. And we have to allow those police inquiries to continue. I can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.”
Truss says ‘these are the toughest sanctions we’ve ever put on Russia’
Foreign secretary Liz Truss has said the sanctions the Government has imposed are “the toughest we’ve ever put on Russia”.
But she stressed the UK would keep “some in the locker” if Vladimir Putin further invades Ukraine.
“There will be more action on financial markets, there will be more action on individuals – we have a list of individuals ready to go,” she told BBC Breakfast.
“Vladimir Putin and his cronies will be fearing they will be hit next.”
RT respond to ‘Russian propaganda claims’
Russia Today has responded to claims from MPs that it is “spouting Kremlin propaganda”.
RT deputy editor-in-chief Anna Belkina said: “Always a joy to see Western and particularly British politicians finally drop their hypocritical disguise in favour of open interference in institutions they touted as supposedly totally independent and wholly free from political pressure and interference.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was among those calling for Ofcom to pull the broadcaster from British screens – though ministers have insisted this is a decision for the regulator.
Lammy: UK must implement stronger sanctions
Labour’s shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has said the Government needs to implement stronger sanctions on Russia, telling BBC Breakfast “a threshold has been breached”.
He said: “I think the mood of the entire House of Commons yesterday was that the Government were not being strong enough.
“The Labour Party, of course, but also other parties and backbenchers in the Conservative Party (are) hugely concerned that we’ve not been strong or hard enough – sending a message to Vladimir Putin that might, at this 11th hour, make him step back.”