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       Missiles hit Ukraine’s biggest nuclear plant starting major fires

       Boris Johnson will seek an “immediate” emergency UN Security Council meeting in the coming hours following reports of a fire at a nuclear power plant in the south-eastern Ukrainian city Zaporizhzhia.

       In an early morning phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Johnson said the situation in Zaporizhzhia is "gravely concerning" and slammed Russian president Vladimir Putin for “reckless actions” threatening the safety of all of Europe.

       The PM’s office said: “Both leaders agreed that Russia must immediately cease its attack on the power station and allow unfettered access for emergency services to the plant.”

       The spokesman of the pant said the shelling directly on the Zaporizhzhia plant has set fire to one of the facility’s six reactors.

       Meanwhile, Liz Truss will attend a series of meetings in Brussels with fellow foreign ministers from Nato and the European Union to discuss Ukraine situation.

       Home secretary Priti Patel is set to visit Poland’s border with Ukraine to highlight the visas on offer to those fleeing the conflict who have relations in Britain.

       This comes as Mr Johnson is being urged to act quickly to seize assets of Russian oligarchs following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

       Recommended Boris Johnson has pledged to publish a list of ‘Putin’s pals’ – but there’s a problem Security minister denies Boris Johnson ‘scared’ to sanction oligarchs Boris Johnson claims EU travel rules explain its more generous help for refugees from Ukraine Boris Johnson vows to be ‘generous’ with fleeing Ukrainians – but falls short of welcoming all refugees

       Highlights Liz Truss to join Nato and EU minister in crisis meeting PM to seek emergency UNSC meeting after fire at nuclear power plant

       Show latest update 1646372699 UK PM says Russia must ‘immediately’ cease attack on Ukraine nuclear plant

       British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that Russian forces must immediately cease an attack on a Ukrainian nuclear power plant where a fire broke out.

       Mr Johnson said he spoke to Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky about the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the country’s southeast.

       Read The Independent’s Sravasti Dasgupta’s detailed report

       UK PM Johnson says Russia must ‘immediately’ cease attack on Ukraine nuclear plant Johnson says ‘reckless’ actions of Russian president Putin could threaten all of Europe

       Shweta Sharma 4 March 2022 05:44

       1646371303 British MP calls on PM to cease ‘￡55.3m foreign aid to India'

       British MP Johnny Mercer called on Boris Johnson to cease ‘￡55.3m foreign aid to India', branding the country as “Putin’s mates” over New Delhi’s silence in condemning its ally for invading Ukraine.

       “In 2021/22 we are giving ￡55.3m to India in Foreign Aid. I am a strong supporter of foreign aid and voted against this Government’s reduction of it,” the Conservative politician said in a tweet.

       “However if we sanction Putin’s mates, it’s time to end this donation too. Far worthier causes around,” he said referring to sanctions on Russian oligarchs.

       India has urged Russia and Ukraine to end hostilities but stopped short of condemning Russian aggression are it walks a tightrope with an ally and its largest arms supplier on one side and Western partners on the other.

       Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has talked to Vladimir Putin twice since the war broke out amid pressure to use its leverage on Russia.

       Shweta Sharma 4 March 2022 05:21

       1646370487 Zelensky says ‘do not allow death to Europe’ in calls with UK, US leaders

       Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he has informed the leaders of the US, UK and the EU about the fire at the nuclear plant.

       Mr Zelensky sounded an ominous warning calling the latest events as potential “end of Europe” if there is an explosion in the reactor.

       “If there is an explosion - that’s the end for everyone. The end for Europe. The evacuation of Europe,” he said in an emotional speech in the middle of the night.

       “Only urgent action by Europe can stop the Russian troops. Do not allow the death of Europe from a catastrophe at a nuclear power station,” he said

       He called on politicians to pressure Russian leadership to stop the onslaught by its forces.

       This comes as a fire at Europe’s biggest nuclear plant has caused panic among leaders in Europe due to the potential threat from radiation from the reactor.

       The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Twitter that it’s been informed by Ukraine’s nuclear regulator that “there has been no change reported in radiation levels” at a nuclear power station shelled by Russian troops.

       (Zaporizhzhya NPP via REUTERS)

       Shweta Sharma 4 March 2022 05:08

       1646369676 UK slaps sanctions on two Russian oligarch

       The UK has imposed sanctions on billionaire sports and mining mogul Alisher Usmanov along with former Russian deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov, as part of the international reaction to the invasion of Ukraine.

       The announcement by foreign secretary Liz Truss came shortly after Usmanov’s ￡500m superyacht was seized by German authorities, amid claims that the UK was lagging behind its EU allies in targeting the wealthy plutocrats around Vladimir Putin.

       Read The Independent’s Andrew Woodcock detailed report

       Sanctions imposed on Russian oligarchs including Usmanov over Ukraine invasion Vladimir Putin’s former deputy prime minister Shuvalov also targeted for travel ban and asset freeze

       Shweta Sharma 4 March 2022 04:54

       1646369156 Priti Patel to fly to Poland to bring Britons in Ukraine to UK

       Home secretary Priti Patel will travel to Medyka on Poland’s border with Ukraine to highlight her Ukraine family scheme as a million people continued exodus from worn-torn Ukraine.

       She said “the British Government will do everything it can to support the Ukrainian people at this critical moment as they fight for freedom” ahead of her visit.

       She will launch the Ukraine family scheme which will allow Britons and those settled in the UK to bring their relatives to safety in Britain.

       According to the UN refugee agency, more than a million people have fled Ukraine after the war began and they anticipate the figure could rise to four million.

       But Labour argued the British government needs to expand the rules by introducing a “simple emergency visa available to all Ukrainians that need sanctuary and protection in the UK”.

       Shweta Sharma 4 March 2022 04:45

       1646368727 Liz Truss to join Nato and EU minister in crisis meeting

       For the first time since Brexit, the foreign secretary Liz Truss will attend the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council, to attend a series of meeting in Brussels over the Ukraine crisis.

       She will be joined by counterparts from Nato and the European Union, including the US, Canada and Ukraine.

       Ms Truss called it “one of the biggest days of diplomacy” as allies are prepared to “tighten the vice around Putin’s war machine” by targeting the Russian economy with sanctions.

       Shweta Sharma 4 March 2022 04:38

       1646367912 Queen made 'generous' private donation for Ukraine

       The Queen has made a “generous donation” to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) humanitarian fund for the humanitarian relief of Ukraine.

       The palace has not announced the donation and did not reveal how much it was, but the charity thanked the monarch on Twitter.

       The charity said thanks “for making a generous donation to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal”.

       The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have also made donations to Ukraine amid war, The Telegraph reported.

       The organisation, made up of 15 charities, launched its Ukraine appeal on Thursday to provide emergency relief to those who have left their homes after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion a week ago.

       Shweta Sharma 4 March 2022 04:25

       1646367127 Boris Johnson to seek emergency UNSC meeting after fire at nuclear power plant

       Prime minister Boris Johnson said he will seek an emergency UN Security Council meeting in the coming hours and will raise the issue with Russia and other close partners.

       Mr Boris held an early morning call with the Ukrainian president, who said the fire at the nuclear power plant could be a catastrophe for all of Europe -- in an ominously warning referring to Chernobyl.

       On Friday, Volodymyr Zelensky said one of the power stations from six reactors of the largest power plant in Europe has caught fire following shelling allegedly by Russia.

       Downing Street called the situation in Zaporizhzhia “gravely concerning”.

       “The Prime Minister said the reckless actions of President Putin could now directly threaten the safety of all of Europe. He said the UK would do everything it could to ensure the situation did not deteriorate further,” a spokeswoman for PM’s office said.

       “The Prime Minister said he would be seeking an emergency UN Security Council meeting in the coming hours, and that the UK would raise this issue immediately with Russia and close partners.

       “Both leaders agreed a ceasefire was crucial.”

       Shweta Sharma 4 March 2022 04:12

       1646366390

       Good Morning! Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of UK politics on 4 March, Friday

       Shweta Sharma 4 March 2022 03:59