Speaking after an emergency Cobra meeting, UK prime minister Boris Johnson called Russia’s military operation in Ukraine a “catastrophe for our continent”.
The PM will speak in Parliament on Thursday to outline new and harsher sanctions against Russia, as well as giving a televised statement outlining the UK’s response.
The prime minister tweeted that Russian president, Vladimir Putin had “chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction” by mounting an “unprovoked attack” and later called Ukrainian premier Volodymyr Zelensky during which he pledged that the West “would not stand by” in the face of Russia’s assault.
Defence secretary Ben Wallace said that Russia’s move came as an act of “naked aggression against a democratic country”.
Foreign secretary Liz Truss has summoned the Russian ambassador to the UK demanding an explanation for the “illegal, unprovoked invasion” and vowed that “severe sanctions” would be imposed on Russia.
The UK had already announced a wave of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday as part of co-ordinated action from the West, but it has not deterred Putin from making his move.
The assault began after Putin announced in a televised address that a “special military operation” would be launched in the Donbass region of Ukraine. He said during the address that Ukrainians would be able to “choose freely” who runs their nation.
Putin called on Ukrainian forces in the Donbass region to lay down their arms and go home, threatening an “instant” response to any resistance.
Russian forces then breached Ukraine’s border and launched strategic bombing campaigns against military targets near to major Ukrainian cities. The attack has seen martial law declared in Ukraine and citizens have sought to flee the capital city of Kyiv and other major hubs.
The Ukrainian government has called Russia’s military operation a “full-scale invasion”, yet Putin has claimed that Moscow has no intention of occupying the country.
Putin has also accused the West of dismissing Russia’s demand for guarantees that Ukraine will not join the NATO military alliance, having called the prospect a threat to Russian security.
The invasion comes after Putin declared earlier this week that Russia would recognise the rebel-held Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics.
The UK Foreign Office has expressed concerns that the Russian assault will not be isolated to the country’s east. Foreign Office minister James Cleverly referenced that Russian strikes had taken place “across a number of parts of Ukraine” and called the attack “the start of quite an extensive military operation”.
The UK has provided additional military support to NATO member states in eastern Europe, yet with Ukraine not a member of the military alliance, the likelihood of British troops being sent into Ukraine is uncertain.
Chair of the Commons Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood, hit out at the government for holding back sanctions until after Russia mounted its invasion, calling for the West to provide support for the Ukrainian army in the form of weapons and communications systems and counter-cyber capacity. He also urged for a NATO no-fly zone to be introduced to deter Russia from further action.
UK nationals were advised by the government to leave Ukraine a fortnight ago. Those who remain have been told to leave Ukraine immediately, if possible, while Ukrainian airspace has been closed to commercial flights.
World leaders have condemned Putin and Russia for mounting its invasion, with US president Joe Biden calling the assault “unprovoked and unjustified” and declaring that the world “will hold Russia accountable”.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, hit out at Putin for “bringing war back to Europe”. Both the US and EU have also vowed to impose “massive” sanctions to limit Russia’s financial capabilities and “capacity to modernise”.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, called Russia’s move “reckless” and summoned the North Atlantic Council for an emergency meeting on Thursday morning.
Image taken from Wikimedia Commons
