Boris Johnson has agreed Vladimir Putin should be sent to “the dustbin of history”, as he warned Nato allies not to “backslide on sanctions” against Russia.
The prime minister toughened up his stance on the Russian president’s fate – despite criticism of Joe Biden for appearing to call for regime change in Moscow to end Ukraine’s agony.
In the Commons, Mr Johnson was urged to recognise that now is the time “to double down” on military aid to defeat Russia, “whilst consigning Vladimir Putin to the dustbin of history where he belongs”.
He told MPs: “I think that is absolutely right,” as he praised the questioner, Tory former minister Johnny Mercer, for his “bravery” in visiting Ukraine.
There have been suggestions that some Western countries might ease up on sanctions in return for Russia signing up to a ceasefire – but the prime minister attacked the idea.
The West must “make sure there is no backsliding on sanctions by any of our friends and partners around the world,” he argued, calling instead for action to “ratchet up the economic pressure on Putin.
“And it is inconceivable that any sanctions could be taken off simply because there is a ceasefire. That would be absolutely unthinkable,” Mr Johnson said.
Washington was forced to deny the US president was calling for regime change, after his ad-libbed remarks on a visit to Poland were attacked by the Kremlin and alarmed Nato leaders.
The UK government was among those that distanced itself from any suggestion that the West wants Putin to be deposed, insisting that is a matter for the Russian people.
At the weekend, the foreign secretary Liz Truss says said could be lifted if Russia withdraws from Ukraine and commits to end aggression.
The West should retain the ability to impose “snapback sanctions if there is further aggression in future,” she argued in a newspaper interview.
But No 10 declined to endorse the stance and said the cabinet has not discussed the possible circumstances for easing the economic pressure” on Moscow.
On Tuesday, Russia announced it is scaling back operations around Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital it expected to conquer, to “increase mutual trust” in the peace talks.
But Western governments are sceptical, believing the talks are a smokescreen and that Putin has no real intention of stopping his attempted advance.
“Nothing that we have seen so far has demonstrated to us that President Putin and his colleagues are particularly serious about that. It is more of a tactical exercise playing for time,” one official said.
Last week, Moscow said it is focusing its efforts on “liberating” the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, currently part-held by pro-Russian separatists.
“Even if they do do what they say they are going to do that is not in any shape or form a cessation of hostilities,” the official added.
