Vladimir Putin has been met with “greater Ukrainian resistance” than he expected, Boris Johnson and Volodymyr Zelensky agreed in a call today.
Downing Street said the prime minister paid tribute to the “incredible heroism and bravery” of Ukraine’s leader and its people as the pair “agreed on the need for the international community to isolate Russia completely diplomatically and financially”,
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the Russian advance had “temporarily slowed” in part due to resistance from Ukrainian forces.
Mr Zelensky thanked Mr Johnson for the UK’s pledge to continue to supply arms to Ukraine’s military.
Britain has already sent 2,000 anti-tank missile launchers and was looking to get more weaponry to the country, UK armed forces minister James Heappey said.
“We know what the Ukrainians want. We are doing our best to get it to them,” he told Sky News.
Meanwhile, British sea, land and air forces were deployed to reinforce Nato’s defences on its eastern flank. Troops are set to arrive in Estonia in the coming days, the MoD said.
‘Very grim days ahead for Ukraine,’ warns Johnson
Speaking at RAF Brize Norton, Boris Johnson said: “Let’s be in no doubt, things are not going all the way of President Putin, very far from it.
“The Ukrainians are fighting heroically, and in some places with great success, as many of us thought they would because they’re a great country and a very brave country.
“But as you rightly point out, there are some terrible atrocities being committed and there will be some very grim days ahead for Ukraine.
“We’ve got to do everything we can to change the heavy odds that Ukraine faces and to help them, and so that’s why we’re sending humanitarian supplies, we’re sending financial supplies and military supplies as well.
“The UK was the first European country to send military aid to Ukraine. Last night, many other countries joined in sending, in pledging to send military assistance, you’re starting to see that grow.”
Queen postpones reception at Windsor Castle next week
The Queen has postponed a diplomatic reception at Windsor that was due to be held on Wednesday.
Buckingham Palace said Her Majesty had accepted the foreign secretary’s advice to delay the event, which would have seen her meet hundreds of members of the Diplomatic Corps.
It is understood the postponement is because of the conflict in Ukraine.
Putin has met with ‘greater Ukrainian resistance’ than expected, say Boris Johnson and Zelensky
Downing Street said Boris Johnson and Volodymyr Zelensky “agreed on the need for the international community to isolate Russia completely diplomatically and financially” in their call today.
In a statement, No 10 said: “The prime minister spoke to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy this evening.
“He paid tribute to the incredible heroism and bravery of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people.
“The leaders agreed that President Putin is being met with a greater Ukrainian resistance than he calculated on.
“The prime minister updated on the UK’s support to Ukraine and the progress rallying international partners to hold Russia to account for their campaign of destruction.
“The leaders agreed on the need for the international community to isolate Russia completely diplomatically and financially. They welcomed the increased willingness to take action on excluding Russia from SWIFT.
“The prime minister and President Zelenskyy expressed their mutual concern about the role Belarus is playing as a conduit for President Putin’s violence. ”
Volodymyr Zelensky ‘grateful’ to Boris Johnson for arms
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that he and Boris Johnson spoke on the phone today.
In a tweet, he said: “I talked on the phone with @BorisJohnson.
“I am grateful to the British Prime Minister for his position, new decisions to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian army. Agreed on further joint steps to counter the aggressor.”
The UK today announced it would send more weapons to Ukraine as Kyiv battles against a Russian insurgence. More British troops were also set to bolster Nato’s eastern flank in Estonia.
Boris Johnson tells Zelensky: ‘Swift ban coming soon’ — Peston
Thread here from ITV’s Robert Peston on a call between Boris Johnson and Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the barring of Russia from the Swift global payments scheme.
The EU has been discussing the potential sanction in recent days. Germany and Hungary were holding out against it but Hungarian president Viktor Orban earlier signalled he would be willing to support the ban in the name of European unity.
Priti Patel and David Lammy clash on Twitter over visa rules
Home secretary Priti Patel admonished David Lammy on Twitter for what she called “appalling misinformation” on UK visa rules for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian assault on their country.
Labour’s shadow foreign secretary said it was “totally immoral” for the Home Office to apply normal visa rules to Ukrainian citizens during the invasion.
But Ms Patel said this was “simply untrue”. Shortly after their spat, the Home Office replied with a list of visa rules to a tweet from Andrew Neil that signalled agreement with Mr Lammy.
The UK has stopped accepting visa applications from Ukrainians stuck in the country, meaning there is no safe and legal route for them to seek asylum in Britain unless they have British relatives.
Ukrainians must reach a neighbouring country in order to apply for a visa for Britain.
Ms Patel has announced visa concessions for Ukrainians who are already in Britain for work, study or tourism, extending the time period before they must leave the country.
But there has been no announcement of a resettlement scheme or other measures in response to an expected exodus of refugees, despite offers of help from numerous other countries.
Breaking: Roman Abromavich hands over stewardship of Chelsea FC
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has handed over the reins of the Stamford Bridge side to the club’s foundation.
MPs this week called on the government to impose sanctions on the Russian national over his links to the government in Moscow.
We will bring you more on this as we hear it:
Russia moves weapons capable of inflicting mass casualties into position, claim intelligence officials
Latest dispatch from Kim Sengupta in Kyiv:
Russian forces attempting to storm Kyiv and other main cities are being reinforced after meeting fierce resistance with large numbers of troops and heavy weaponry capable of inflicting massive casualties, according to Western intelligence analysts.
The Ukrainian capital is said to be the destination for two Russian armies – the 41st Combined Arms Army (CAA) and the 1st Guards Tank Army – as part of an encirclement operation from three sides with a fourth one being considered.
Western officials have expressed deep concern that frustration at a long delay in capturing Kyiv may lead to Vladimir Putin ordering the use of weapons capable of causing huge loss of lives including thermobaric missiles.
Prince William and Kate Middleton ‘stand with people of Ukraine’ amid Russian invasion
Prince William and Kate Middleton have said they “stand with Ukraine’s people” following the Russian invasion.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sent a message showing solidarity with Ukranians from their official social media account on Saturday.
“In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine’s future,” the royal couple said.
“Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraine’s people as they bravely fight for that future.”
They signed off with an emoji of the Ukranian flag and “W & C”.
Starmer says oligarch sanctions could be passed ‘very, very quickly’
Sir Keir Starmer urged the government to come forward with legislation to expose Russian oligrachs who hide their wealth by buying up property in the UK as quickly as possible.
Announcing the UK sanctions package in the Commons on Thursday, Boris Johnson said ministers would set out measures before Easter for a register of overseas property ownership.
Following reports that the government was preparing to fasttrack the legislation, Sir Keir said Labour would support such a move.
“The government says it is bringing forward primary legislation. My message to them is ‘Get on with it’. We will fully support it,” he in a pooled clip for broadcasters during a visit to Birmingham.
“It can go through Parliament very, very quickly. We have been calling for this legislation to break open companies to see who the real beneficiaries are for years.
“This will now go through because we will support it but it won’t be enforced for months to come so I am frustrated that it has taken this long for the government to come forward.”
