Boris Johnson this morning told cabinet it was becoming clearer by the day that Vladimir Putin had made a “colossal mistake” in invading Ukraine, where “heroic” resistance was inflicting “significant casualties” on Russian forces.
The prime minister is to fly to Estonia and Poland on Tuesday as he continues his drive to build international support for Ukraine following the invasion.
He told ministers that Putin’s aggression “must fail” and said the UK was determined to continue building international pressure on the Russian president, saying: “We will continue to support Ukraine and its people in any way we can.”
Mr Johnson spoke by phone with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday afternoon.
A Downing Street spokesperson said that the PM “commended his bravery and that of the Ukrainian people” and told Zelensky that the UK was committed to sending more military support “in the coming hours and days”.
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“The leaders categorically condemned the barbaric airstrikes being carried out by Russia against innocent civilians, including children,” said the spokesperson.
Mr Johnson is due to speak with fellow G7 leaders including US president Joe Biden in a conference call later today, and will meet with Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg as well as his Estonian and Polish counterparts during Tuesday’s trip.
The PM told ministers: “It is becoming clearer with each day that Putin has made a colossal mistake believing that the guns of his tanks would be garlanded with roses when instead the Ukrainian people have put up a fierce resistance in defence of their homeland”.
Latest intelligence suggests that Russian advances have been hampered not only by the heroic efforts of Ukrainian troops and civilians but also by logistical problems delivering essential supplies like fuel to the invading forces.
Western analysts believe that the Russian operation has shown little sign of effective planning or leadership, possibly because of complacency from the very top about the likelihood of Ukraine being able to mount any resistance.
Putin’s public announcement that he is putting nuclear weapons on standby is regarded in London as an attempt to distract from the difficulties his forces are experiencing on the ground - and a breach of a recent agreement by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council that such weapons must never be used in war.
There are real fears that the Russian president may respond to setbacks by ordering more brutal and indiscriminate violence against civilians in Ukraine, unleashing artillery barrages or thermobaric weapons against built-up areas.
And there are concerns in London that the notorious Wagner Group network of private security firms could be used to insert mercenaries to commit atrocities behind Ukrainian lines.
Mr Johnson said the Russian president had “underestimated Western unity” behind sanctions, which have already caused a 30 per cent collapse in the value of the rouble, a spike in inflation to around 20 per cent and queues of people trying to withdraw savings from banks.
The PM told ministers that Putin “must fail in his attempt to subjugate Ukraine”, adding that the UK is ready to continue efforts to achieve this “economically, diplomatically and militarily”.
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UK news in pictures 27 February 2022 People protest in front of the National Gallery in London against Russia’s massive military operation in Ukraine
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UK news in pictures 24 February 2022 People protest against the Russian invasion on Ukraine outside Downing Street in London
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UK news in pictures 29 January 2022 A newly painted bicycle sign is seen on the middle of the road at Westminster Bridge, as the new Highway Code rules start today together with giving pedestrians priority at junctions
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UK news in pictures 26 January 2022 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson jogs with his dog Dilyn, in London
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UK news in pictures 16 January 2022 The moon rises above the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, Hampshire
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UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic
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UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London
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UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London
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UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland
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UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London
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Mr Johnson has told officials he is determined to maintain a very high tempo of international action in support of Ukraine and will continue to push for ever-tighter measures on Moscow.
Britain will impose further sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals “shortly” and will continue to lead calls for Russia to be cut out completely from the Swift banking transfer system, he said.
On the diplomatic front, the UK will continue to speak to other countries to broaden global condemnation of Putin’s actions, with foreign secretary Liz Truss set to take this message on a trip round overseas capitals later this week.
Mr Johnson said the decision to provide defensive military capability to Ukraine early on had been “vindicated” by events and this support will continue.
This infographic, created for The Independent by statistics agency Statista, shows the relative military strength of Ukraine and Russia
(Statista/The Independent)
Cabinet was updated by the chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee Sir Simon Gass and Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Tony Radakin, who pointed to the discontent among the Russian people evidenced by an anti-war petition which has attracted around a million signatures.
Mr Johnson told cabinet the UK will “continue to support Ukraine and its people in whatever way we can” and will “lead from the front in mobilising the international community to provide more practical support to Ukraine”.
Mr Johnson’s official spokesperson said British legal firms and banks should “think very carefully” before acting on behalf of Putin and his cronies.
“The prime minister’s view is that Putin’s regime, and Putin, must be treated like a pariah state and businesses should think very carefully if they are still continuing to do anything that props up the Putin regime,” said the spokesperson.
“The United Kingdom, the prime minister, is very clear that we do not want to unnecessarily inflict damage on the Russian people, many of whom are bravely taking to the streets to protest this violence, this invasion.
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“But... we think anyone who is actively seeking to support any elements of the Putin regime should think very carefully.”