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Boris Johnson arrives in Poland amid Ukraine invasion
Boris Johnson will address the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday and update the MP’s following his trip to Poland and Estonia as the UK has imposed further sanctions on Russia.
Nato intervention in Ukraine is “not on the agenda” and “is not being contemplated by any member”, Boris Johnson has stressed, despite the “evil” of Vladimir Putin’s war on Russia’s sovereign neighbour.
Speaking in Poland and Estonia as he visits Nato allies on day six of the war in Ukraine, the prime minister accused Mr Putin of wanting to “overthrow the Cold War order” and destroy the vision of a “free Europe”.
He added: “I cannot think of a time in international affairs when the difference between right and wrong, between good and bad, between good and evil, has been so obvious.”
Earlier, Dominic Raab, Mr Johnson’s deputy and justice secretary, warned that the Russian president could resort to “even more barbaric” tactics if his forces continue to meet resistance.
Recommended West will exert ‘unrelenting’ pressure to ensure Vladimir Putin’s aggression fails, says Boris Johnson At last, Boris Johnson has spotted the difference between good and evil – shame it took so long Ukrainian woman berates Boris Johnson in emotional speech for not doing more ‘as children take the hit’
Key points PM in Poland: Putin wants to ‘overthrow Cold War order’ and destroy ‘free Europe’ Raab: Putin could resort to ‘even more barbaric’ tactics Johnson extends visa programme for refugees UK brings new sanctions to ‘cut Russia off from global economy’ RT hit by 15 Ofcom investigations, as Liz Truss warns Putin could ban BBC
Show latest update 1646200948 Suffolk County Council to end ￡10m contract with Russia-owned firm
Suffolk County Council said it will end its ￡10m contract with Russian energy firm Gazprom over the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Moscow.
Council leader Matthew Hicks said the county was “actively pursuing” its plans to break away from the contract with the state-owned energy supplier which is held by Vertas.
“When Vladimir Putin made the immoral and utterly reprehensible decision to invade Ukraine, I instructed officers last week to review our contract with Russian-owned energy company Gazprom,” Mr Hicks said.
“I can confirm that we have decided to invoke our options to break away from the contract, ending our connection with Gazprom.”
The 2020 deal was due till 2023, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said, supplying gas to several schools and businesses in the county.
The move was welcomed by Andrew Stringer, leader of the opposition Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent group. He said: “I welcome our council’s reconsideration of our funding of Gazprom.”
Shweta Sharma 2 March 2022 06:02
1646199999 Prince Charles likens Russian invasion to Sir David Amess’s murder
Prince Charles said values of democracy and freedom in Ukraine are under attack in the “most unconscionable way” as he compared Russia’s invasion to the murder of Sir David Amess.
His comments came as he fulfilled the MP’s wish of turning Essex town into a city.
Handing over the document, he said: “What we saw in the terrible tragedy in Southend was an attack on democracy, on an open society, on freedom itself.
“We are seeing those same values under attack today in Ukraine in the most unconscionable way.
“In the stand we take here, we are in solidarity with all those who are resisting brutal aggression.”
The MP who held the seat of Southend West for the Conservatives from 1997 was stabbed last October during a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea.
Shweta Sharma 2 March 2022 05:46
1646198067 Labour MP claims Russian oligarch Abramovich selling UK properties
Chris Bryant, the Labour MP and head of the parliamentary standards committee, has claimed that the Russian oligarch and Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich is selling his properties in the UK amid pressure to impose sanctions on him.
“I think he [Abramovich] is terrified of being sanctioned, which is why he’s already going to sell his home tomorrow, and sell another flat as well. My anxiety is that we’re taking too long about these things,” he said in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
He accused the government of working slowly in imposing sanctions on people allegedly linked to Vladimir Putin.
Abramovich, 55, is one of Russia’s and Britain’s richest people, who is believed to have close ties with Mr Putin.
Shweta Sharma 2 March 2022 05:14
1646198066 Labour MP claims Russian oligarch Abramovich selling UK properties
Chris Bryant, the Labour MP and head of the parliamentary standards committee, has claimed that the Russian oligarch and Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich is selling his properties in the UK amid pressure to impose sanctions on him.
“I think he [Abramovich] is terrified of being sanctioned, which is why he’s already going to sell his home tomorrow, and sell another flat as well. My anxiety is that we’re taking too long about these things,” he said in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
He accused the government of working slowly in imposing sanctions on people allegedly linked to Vladimir Putin.
Abramovich, 55, is one of Russia’s and Britain’s richest people, who is believed to have close ties with Mr Putin.
Shweta Sharma 2 March 2022 05:14
1646195917 Scottish Labour dumping red rose symbol
Scottish Labour will replace the party’s iconic ‘red rose’ emblem with a red and purple thistle as part of a major rebranding exercise.
A party source told the Daily Record: “Nobody thinks rebranding is going to transform things overnight or is itself going to change anyone’s vote - but this is just one part of a wider culture change.”
The Scottish National Party said Anas Sarwar’s party was “rearranging the flowerpots on the Titanic”.
“They could swap the red rose for a tartan branded unicorn but it won’t fool anyone – they are still a branch office which takes its orders from London,” SNP MSP Paul McLennan said.
The new logo will be unveiled by Mr Sarwar during the Scottish Labour conference on Friday.
Shweta Sharma 2 March 2022 04:38
1646194507 ‘You’re afraid’: Tearful Ukrainian activist confronts Johnson
In an emotional confrontation during a press conference in Poland, Boris Johnson was challenged by a Ukrainian campaigner over UK’s declining support in bringing swift sanctions against Russian nationals in London or to no-fly zone.
Daria Kaleniuk, the executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Centre in Kyiv, said she had to flee Kyiv and cross the border to enter Poland.
“Ukrainian women and Ukrainian children are in deep fear because of bombs and missiles which are going from the sky. Ukrainian people are desperately asking for the rights to protect our sky, we are asking for a no-fly zone,” she said.
“What’s the alternative for the no-fly zone? Nato is not willing to defend because Nato is afraid of world war three but it’s already started and it’s Ukrainian children who are there taking the hit.
“You are talking about more sanctions, prime minister, but Roman Abramovich is not sanctioned, he’s in London, his children are not in the bombardments, his children are there in London.”
Mr Johnson replied to the woman by saying: “I just want to say I am acutely conscious there is not enough we can do as the UK government to help in the way that you want”
“When you talk about the no-fly zone … unfortunately the implication of that is that the UK would be engaged in shooting down Russian planes, would be engaged in direct combat with Russia. That’s not something we can do,” he added.
Shweta Sharma 2 March 2022 04:15
1646193372 Liz Truss slaps sanctions on Belarus for supporting Russian invasion of Ukraine
Britain has slapped sanctions on Belarus in response to the eastern European country’s support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, foreign secretary Liz Truss has announced.
The Foreign Office said the government was imposing its “first tranche” of sanctions against Belarusian military chiefs and organisations for assisting in Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
Read The Independent’s detailed report.
Liz Truss slaps sanctions on Belarus for supporting Russia Lukashenko regime ‘aiding and abetting’ Moscow, says foreign secretary
Shweta Sharma 2 March 2022 03:56
1646193226 Boris Johnson to address MPs after meeting British troops
Boris Johnson might face pressure to take further action on sanctioning Russian oligarchs and supporting Ukrainian refugees during his address to the MPs on Wednesday.
The British PM will address the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday after his trip to Poland and Estonia where he met British troops on Nato’s flank with Russia.
The Foreign Office on Tuesday announced further financial sanctions on Moscow banks and banned Russia-linked ships from docking at UK ports.
Shweta Sharma 2 March 2022 03:53
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Shweta Sharma 2 March 2022 03:39
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Andy Gregory 1 March 2022 18:35
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