Russia has blamed Liz Truss for Vladimir Putin's nuclear threat as it accused her of making "unacceptable" statements after the invasion of Ukraine.
Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Kremlin, said it was Ms Truss, the Foreign Secretary, who prompted Putin to put his nuclear arsenal on standby on Sunday.
"Statements were made by various representatives at various levels on possible altercations or even collisions and clashes between Nato and Russia," Mr Peskov said.
"We believe that such statements are absolutely unacceptable. I would not call the authors of these statements by name, although it was the British foreign minister."
Ms Truss had warned that if Putin was not stopped in Ukraine, "we are going to see others under threat - the Baltics, Poland, Moldova, and it could end up in a conflict with Nato".
Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, told Sky News that President Putin's remarks amounted to "a big attempt to distract away from his troubles in Ukraine" as Russia continues to face strong Ukrainian resistance.
Russia refused to reopen its stock market this morning after western sanctions plunged the country’s economy into crisis and sparked turmoil on global markets, writes James Warrington.
Russia’s central bank initially delayed the opening of the Moscow Exchange by three hours before saying it would remain closed all day.
A fresh wave of sanctions targeting Russia’s central bank and blocking some lenders from the Swift payment system have sparked panic in the country, with the rouble plummeting to a record low against the dollar.
Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 dropped by more than one per cent as the turmoil spread through global markets.
￡4million in humanitarian aid will be sent to Ukraine by the Scottish Government, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed this morning.
"Scotland has given its unqualified support for Ukrainian independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and to the people of Ukraine as they bravely resist the unprovoked and illegal aggression of the Russian regime," Ms Sturgeon said.
"As a responsible and compassionate global citizen we will help with an initial ￡4million in financial aid to provide essential help to those in desperate need.
"And we are also working with the Ukrainian government to provide medical supplies from stocks we hold. We are coordinating with other UK nations to ensure that these supplies get to where they are desperately needed as quickly as possible.
The money will go towards health, sanitation, shelter and water for Ukrainians, the First Minister added, as she said "words of support are not enough" in the global response to the crisis.
Matt Hancock has sung the praises of the Prime Minister in his podcast appearance on Steven Bartlett's The Diary of a CEO.
Despite Boris Johnson's background being "as different from the voters of Hartlepool as it's possible to get", Mr Hancock said he can "reach people" in a manner similar to Barack Obama, the former President.
"He's one of the few people who really just will withstand the criticism of the next day's press in order to actually say how he feels. He's a very, very emotionally engaged person."
On the Downing Street parties, the former Health Secretary added: "I wasn't invited.
"I do think you've got to look at the big picture of we're coming out of the pandemic now, and that's in large part because of the big calls."
Top European Union official Charles Michel has said there are disagreements among the 27 member states on enlarging the bloc, reports Marcus Parekh, as Kyiv appealed for membership in the face of a Russian invasion.
"There are different opinions and sensitivities within the EU on enlargement," European Council chief Charles Michel said.
He said that Kyiv would have to submit an official request to join, then member states would have to come up with a unanimous position.
Russian and Ukrainian delegations have now begun their first talks since Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine last week, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported.
Energy bills went up unnecessarily to pay for heat pumps and electric car chargers that families never bought, our Environment Correspondent Olivia Rudgard can reveal.
Companies that own and run power lines charge customers for the upgrades needed to prepare the grid for net zero.
In London and the South East, homeowners were predicted to install more than half a million green technologies between 2015 and 2023 - but so far just 100,000 have actually materialised, data show.
This meant electricity network company UK Power Networks (UKPN) charged customers over ￡1.1 billion for network upgrades but in practice spent less than half of this amount.
Revealed: Customers charged over ￡1.1bn for upgrades
Dwell times at UK ports have more than doubled since last spring as global supply chains creak, writes Louis Ashworth.
Shippers spent an average of more than seven days discharging at British ports last month, well above the European average of roughly five days.
The figure spiked to nearly nine days in January, as the introduction of post-Brexit customs rules led to new red tape and checks on imports.
Read more: Ukraine invasion threatens to prolong disruption
President Joe Biden has explained why he failed to stop Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He admitted that he had no idea what he was doing, writes John Bolton.
For months, Nato members and other governments thought they were working to deter Vladimir Putin from unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. The entire debate centred on choosing the most effective measures to convince Putin of the enormous consequences he and Russia would face if they resorted to military force.
Western leaders asked themselves what combination of preventative actions, threats of economic sanctions and even – in the minds of some, myself included – military force would be the most effective deterrent against a Russian invasion. What measures would persuade Moscow that the costs of any military action would be prohibitive, and more serious for Russia than any possible benefits?
Today, it is tragically obvious this collective effort failed.
John Bolton: Joe Biden failed to grasp the concept of deterrence
Face covering laws have been relaxed in a number of settings in Wales after a change to the Covid laws under Mark Drakeford's government.
Masks will on no longer be needed in cinemas, community centres, gyms, museums and theatres.
However, the Welsh Government has maintained the mandate in all retail settings, on public transport and in health and care settings, except for where someone is exempt.
On January 15, rules on outdoor gatherings were relaxed, while limits on the number of people who can socialise in open spaces and indoor activities also eased in late January.
Mr Drakeford, whose political opponents have accused him of taking an overzealous approach towards virus restrictions throughout the pandemic, said the rules have been "necessary and effective" in stemming the spread of Covid.
Why is Putin doing this? asks Tim Stanley. Well, he’s not a communist. Yes, he said the collapse of the Soviet Union was the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe" of the 20th century, but if your nation went from superpower to broken gangster-state, you might think that, too.
Tim Stanley: Invasion of Ukraine in part inspired by thirst for Russia's religious identity
Late last month the Suchet family celebrated ascending to the very pinnacle of the British establishment. The actor David Suchet, 75, best known for his career-defining role as Poirot, was knighted by the Duke of Cambridge at Windsor Castle for services to drama and charity after a career spanning more than 50 years.
As Sir David described the ceremony as the "proudest moment of his life", his older brother John Suchet, the 77-year-old Classic FM presenter, was among those to tweet his congratulations.
And yet there is a third lesser-known Suchet who is provoking outrage by parroting Putin’s propaganda and casting aspersions while his troops invade Ukraine. This week Rory Suchet, one of John Suchet’s three sons from his first marriage, has been a constant presence on the Kremlin-backed broadcaster Russia Today (RT) where he has worked for more than a decade as its main news anchor.
On Thursday, Suchet appeared to deny there was an invasion at all. "The West are calling this an invasion but I’m not seeing any Russian tanks rolling into any major cities," he said, precisely as Putin’s forces were beginning to encircle the Ukrainian capital.
Joe Shute and Yolanthe Fawehinmi take a closer look
This from Meg Hiller, the chair of the public accounts committee and Labour's MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch:
Sanctions on Russia, support for Ukrainians and measures to welcome refugees should go further, Nusrat Ghani has said.
Accusing Vladimir Putin's regime of "war crimes", Ms Ghani wrote: "I will continue to push for further sanctions, defence support and safe passage for refugees."
The Conservative MP for Wealden has focused sharply on international affairs from the backbenches, describing Afghanistan's fall to the Taliban last summer as a "watershed in the failure of the West" as she emotionally recalled her own experiences working in Kabul.
And in April 2021, she passed a motion declaring China was committing genocide against the Uighurs and urged ministers to ensure British supply chains "are not tainted by goods made with Uyghur forced labour".
More than 1,000 faith leaders have warned that plans to criminalise migrants crossing the Channel in small boats are "without basis in evidence or morality", Charles Hymas writes.
They have written to Boris Johnson urging him to reconsider sweeping asylum reforms, urging him not to "close the door" on those fleeing persecution.
It has been signed by 1,028 figures in the six major faith groups including Dr Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Zara Mohammed, the secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover, as well as rabbis, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist leaders.
The letter will be presented at Number 10 today to coincide with the Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill reaching the report stage of the House of Lords.
'These desperate people are seeking sanctuary'
Police should "butt out" of the "farcical" investigation into Downing Street lockdown parties, says a Tory peer who was a close adviser to Boris Johnson as London mayor.
Lord Moylan, who was appointed by Mr Johnson to lead a series of projects in London, said the "partygate" investigation by the Metropolitan Police was "extremely ill-judged" as it was never intended for Covid regulations to be used as a "retrospective" punishment.
Responding to allegations in The Telegraph that police had bungled the investigation by sending questionnaires to government figures about events they had not attended, he tweeted: "Time for the police to butt out of this farcical investigation."
"My view has always been that during the pandemic the role of the police and the role police gave themselves was to seek compliance with the regulations through a gentle word of encouragement and admonition," he said.
Only 'acid house' parties require enforcement, suggests peer
The translator’s voice cracked as she attempted to relay Volodymyr Zelensky’s latest impassioned message to the Ukrainian people, writes James Crisp.
Mr Zelensky declared "Glory to Ukraine" as the interpreter apologised through sobs for being unable to continue.
It was the president’s statement that Ukrainians knew exactly what they were defending that had proved too much for the translator from Germany’s Welt. But she is simply the latest to have been deeply moved by Ukraine’s communicator-in-chief, who was until recently floundering in the polls.
Liz Truss has called the Ukrainian president a hero. Ursula von der Leyen has praised him as "an inspiration". And he is fast becoming an international icon.
Volodymyr Zelensky: A source of inspiration to his people
The Russia-Ukraine crisis demands a "radical rethink" of British foreign policy, the shadow culture secretary said this morning.
Calling on the Government to go further and faster in its sanctions on the Putin regime, Lucy Powell observed the UK, Nato and other Western actors were "waking up" to a new threat.
"We didn't ever think, as a generation, that we would see such a breach of those international norms we have been living with for decades with an illegal invasion of a European country on our doorstep by Russia," she told Sky News.
As she noted action against Russia could be "tougher still", Ms Powell said: "That is going to require a radical rethink in terms of our public policy, foreign policy and defence policy and so on."
Transport for London is urging commuters to work from home next week as tube strikes threaten to cause widespread disruption, writes Gurpreet Narwan, our Consumer Affairs Editor.
Although the Government dropped its work from home guidance in January, transport bosses said that workers should try to avoid coming to the office after talks with union bosses broke down last week.
TfL said that services would be seriously affected on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after the RMT union announced industrial action.
TransPennine Express services will also be affected on Sundays from March 13 to April 3 and for three weekends in April and June after the RMT announced a series of fresh strikes by conductors.
Read more: City facing serious transport disruption
Russia should be banned from all international cultural events and sporting fixtures in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, Labour urged this morning.
Lucy Powell, the shadow culture secretary, called for Russia to be "fully excluded, fully boycotted" across the board. On Friday, it was announced Russia would be excluded from this year's Eurovision song contest, while the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix was also cancelled last week.
"We now need to see a full and clear categoric (sic) signal so that Putin, who takes these occasions very seriously when he is hosting or participating in these events," Ms Powell told Kay Burley at Breakfast.
"He needs to feel the full force of that where it hurts, and it will send a strong signal to the Russian people as well that they need to stand up to Putin because they will no longer be able to take pride in their country taking part in such events."
... the words of Matt Hancock, the former Health Secretary, to ease you into your Monday morning.
Mr Hancock said the affair with his married lover which ended his ministerial career did not break the law but started "quite quickly" after Covid rules were lifted.
The former health secretary resigned from Boris Johnson’s cabinet after CCTV images showing him in an embrace with Gina Coladangelo inside the Department of Health during the height of the pandemic.
On the pre-recorded The Diary of a CEO podcast, which went live this morning, Mr Hancock said he "fell in love" and "it all happened quite quickly. It actually happened... after the rules were lifted, but the guidance was still in place."
Matt Hancock breaks silence on affair and weepy TV appearance
There is "no reason to doubt" that Britain will provide a "very generous" offer in response to the refugee crisis created by Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
"I think what I would say is, you know, our track record so far, both with Afghans and (the) Arap scheme, and indeed with the Hong Kong nationals who were suffering persecution, has been actually very generous," he told the BBC.
"So there's no reason to doubt we won't continue on that path."
The Ukrainian delegation has now arrived at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border for talks with representatives of Russia.
They will meet today "without precondition" - although President Zelensky has indicated he sees little prospect of any meaningful dialogue.
A populist right wing party is the biggest threat to the Tories and could cost them the next election, according to a study by the think-tank that predicted the Red Wall collapse.
The research, by Onward, said the battleground for the next election will be in the north of England where changing demographics such as age, home ownership and education could enable the Tories to capture more than 30 more seats from Labour.
The analysis, which uses the same methodology that identified the red wall in 2019, found no comparable Conservative "Blue Wall" in the South that is vulnerable, although it detected a gradual drift away from the Tories.
Even a successful Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition would not dislodge the Tories because Labour has yet to extend its appeal into traditional Conservative territory, with its voting base concentrated in London and Liverpool at the expense of a wide geographical appeal, the study found.
Charles Hymas has all the details
What's the situation on the ground in Ukraine? Russia has failed to take two big cities on the north-east, Ben Wallace noted this morning, while they have also struggled to take some key airfields despite having some success in the south.
"What you're seeing is the Russian advance not going to plan," the Defence Secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "They haven't yet got what they wanted, they haven't got it to timetable. They are taking casualties every day and that's mainly because of the flawed planning assumption that
"The Russian doctrine is if you don't get what you want, get more and more violent, get more and more indiscriminate. That doesn't always work and we've seen right now it isn't working."
Ukrainians want to stay in Ukraine and have the means to protect their country, Ben Wallace insisted this morning when asked what support Britain will offer refugees.
Speaking to the Today programme, the Defence Secretary said: "Britain is leading the world in providing and coordinating lethal aid and non lethal aid. Ukrainians want to be in Ukraine, they want to be in Ukraine, that is their first wish."
Mr Wallace said the people of Ukraine want the ability to defend themselves above anything else.
"I know you want me to come on and talk about refugees, I'm the Defence Secretary and I was going to come on and also give you an update on where we are so people understand in the media the difference between what's being reported and what our [assessment is]."
Britain could follow the European Union's lead in granting asylum to Ukrainian refugees for up to three years, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee said.
"I've been speaking to ministers this morning and I can tell you there are many who are hopeful that this will be something that's reviewed in the coming days," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Pressed on the EU's stance, Mr Tugendhat said: "I suspect that's likely to be where we end up to be honest. I think there's a definite opportunity to be generous."
New powers to make it easier to seize the properties of Vladimir Putin’s oligarchs are to be introduced by the Government this week.
Investigators will be able to target the properties of oligarchs when they apply for orders to confiscate them if they suspect they have been bought with laundered money.
A new register of overseas entities will also allow investigators to unmask oligarchs who are using shell companies in Britain’s overseas territories to conceal their property wealth.
The UK, US and EU are setting up "kleptocracy" units to hunt down Russian oligarchs’ "luxury homes, yachts, jets and fancy cars" to prevent them bypassing economic sanctions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, official sources said.
Charles Hymas and David Millward have this report
The Government this morning confirmed it will target the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBR) in line with the US and EU.
It plans to introduce a ban on any British citizens or residents undertaking financial transactions involving the CBR, the Russian finance ministry, or its National Wealth Fund.
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, said: "These measures demonstrate our determination to apply severe economic sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
"We are announcing this action in rapid coordination with our US and European allies to move in lock step once more with our international partners, to demonstrate our steadfast resolve in imposing the highest costs on Russia and to cut her off from the international financial system so long as this conflict persists."
Ben Wallace has confirmed that the UK has got lethal aid into Ukraine since the Russian invasion.
Launching a strong defence of his defence policy after criticism of cuts to troop nubmers, Mr Wallace said: "We’ve got lethal and non lethal aid into Ukraine.
"Britain was the first European country to step up to join America with lethal aid. We’ve now even got the Belgians and other countries who historically would have been hesitant delivering lethal aid. I welcome strongly the EU’s position, it took quite a lot of us quite a lot of effort."
"The key [with defence] is to get that balance. In the defence command paper we said a number of things should happen. One is [to] spend the money on the armed forces, the people we have, to be better equipped, more lethal, more joined up and at more readiness.
"Otherwise you end up in an army I was in when we had on paper lots of divisions but when you press the button they were completely hollow and we didn’t quite have the kit to deliver it... We have to some extent changed the balance."
Britons must not be "unduly alarmed" by Vladimir Putin putting Russia's nuclear arsenal on standby, the Defence Secretary said.
In a televised address, broadcast from the Kremlin, President Putin ordered the deterrence forces of the Russian army into a special mode of combat service.
"He's made this comment, we keep it under review," Mr Wallace said. "What we shouldn’t really forget is this is a big attempt to distract away from his troubles in Ukraine by just deploying into the media space these phrases."
Describing an excessive focus on Putin's rhetoric as "unhelpful", he said the Russian president was completely focused on the invasion of a sovereign country.
And speaking to Times Radio, he added: "The people of the United Kingdom should not be unduly alarmed. We're all talking about that, we're not talking about his failures in Ukraine."
Ben Wallace appeared to undermine Liz Truss this morning as he said there are "better ways" to help Ukraine than by going out to fight.
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