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       Boris Johnson says Putin is popular enough in Russia to back down on Ukraine

       Boris Johnson has said that Vladimir Putin is so popular in Russia that he has the "political space" to back down and withdraw forces from Ukraine.

       “The Russian public overwhelmingly back Putin,” Mr Johnson told Talk TV. “Therefore he has the political margin for manoeuvre from within Russia … Putin has far more political space to back down, to withdraw.”

       Back home, the prime minister has also threatened to “privatise the arse” off the Passport Office, as he lashed out at the organisation over huge delays putting holidays at risk.

       Mr Johnson is said to be “horrified” by repeated breaches of a new 10-week target for processing applications, branded an “absolute shambles” by MPs.

       There has been an unprecedented surge in demand after the lifting of Covid restrictions, because five million people delayed renewing their passports during the pandemic.

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       Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of politics this morning.

       Sravasti Dasgupta 27 April 2022 04:56

       1651033654 West should provide warplanes to Ukraine, says Truss

       Foreign secretary Liz Truss will push for increased defence spending and argue in a speech in London on Wednesday that the West must provide warplanes to Ukraine.

       In a speech in Mansion House in London, Ms Truss will argue that the West “must be prepared for the long haul and double down on our support” for the country, reported BBC.

       “If Putin succeeds there will be untold further misery across Europe and terrible consequences across the globe. We would never feel safe again,” she will say in her speech.

       “Heavy weapons, tanks, aeroplanes - digging deep into our inventories, ramping up production. We need to do all of this.”

       Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (Victoria Jones/PA)

       (PA Wire)

       Sravasti Dasgupta 27 April 2022 05:27

       1651033131 Putin has more 'space' to withdraw from Ukraine, Johnson says

       Boris Johnson has said that Russian president Vladimir Putin has “far more political space” to withdraw from Ukraine.

       In an interview with Talk TV the prime minister said: “The Russian public overwhelmingly back Putin.“Therefore he has the political margin for manoeuvre from within Russia …”

       “Given the massive Russian backing for what he is doing, given the apparent obliviousness of the Russian media about what is really happening in Ukraine -- the paradox is that Putin has far more political space to back down (and) to withdraw,” he added.

       Adam Forrest has more:

       Putin could withdraw because of ‘massive’ popularity in Russia, says Boris Johnson Russian president could tell his people mission had been ‘accomplished’, says PM

       Sravasti Dasgupta 27 April 2022 05:18