Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged the West to end its ‘dependence’ on Russian oil and gas in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine

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       Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged the West to end its ‘dependence’ on Russian oil and gas in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine

       (PA Wire)

       Boris Johnson has urged the west to reduce its dependency on Russian energy as he prepares to leave for Saudi Arabia in a bid for increased oil and gas production to make up for the reduced supplies from Russia.

       Prime minister, who is likely to meet with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, wrote in the Daily Telegraph that the west had made a “terrible mistake” by continuing its dependence on Russian and letting president Vladimir Putin “get away with” 2014 invasion of Crimea.

       He accused Mr Putin of using West’s energy reliance on Russia for “blackmail”, adding “we cannot go on like this”.

       “As long as the West is economically dependent on Putin, he will do all he can to exploit that dependence. And that is why that dependence must-- and will--now end,” he wrote.

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       Show latest update 1647319638 More than 40,000 Britons register to sponsor Ukrainian refugees

       More than 43,000 people have registered their interest in sponsoring Ukrainian refugees to stay in their homes – just hours after the government website went live.

       Offering those who provide sanctuary a monthly payment of ￡350, the scheme was formally launched on Monday after days of criticism over the government’s handling of the humanitarian crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

       Michael Gove told MPs it will allow Ukrainian’s with no family links to come to the UK and benefit from “unrestricted access” to benefits, employment and healthcare.

       The Independent’s political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports

       Namita Singh 15 March 2022 04:47

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       Boris Johnson said west made a “terrible mistake” by letting president Vladimir Putin “get away” with its 2014 annexation of Crimea.

       Slamming the countries for their intensifying the economic relations in the aftermath of the Russian aggression, the prime minister said that “when he finally came to launch his vicious war in Ukraine, he knew the world would find it very hard to punish him.”

       Writing for the Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson added: “He knew that he had created an addiction.”

       As long as the West is economically dependent on Putin, he will do all he can to exploit that dependence. And that is why that dependence must – and will – now end.

       Boris Johnson

       PM – West must end addiction to Russian energy and starve Putin of war funds The Prime Minister is due to travel to Saudi Arabia in the hope the kingdom can raise its production of oil and gas as he urges the West to diverge.

       Namita Singh 15 March 2022 04:30

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       Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of UK politics for Tuesday, 15 March 2022.

       Namita Singh 15 March 2022 04:08