Vladimir Putin placed nuclear deterrence forces on high alert after comments made by Liz Truss, a Kremlin spokesman revealed today.
Dmitry Peskov said that “unacceptable” statements were made “by various representatives at various levels”, and specifically named the foreign secretary.
On Sunday Mr Putin said his nuclear order was due to “aggressive statements” by Nato countries and economic sanctions placed on Russia.
In response Boris Johnson said the escalation was a “distraction” from the failures of the Russian president’s army to breakthrough in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Labour has criticised new immigration rules brought in to help Ukrainians seeking refuge in the UK, calling them “shameful”.
The relaxation of immigration rules comes after the government faced intense criticism over failing to relax the visa requirements for Ukrainian nationals earlier this week.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper at first said it was a “welcome first step forward”, but when further guidance was later released by the Home Office on Sunday night was critical that the rules did not apply to the “wider family”.
Do not go to Ukraine to fight, says senior Tory MP
Senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, chair of the select committee, said: “Please, do not go to Ukraine unless you have some kind of combat experience.”
It follows foreign secretary Liz Truss said she would “absolutely” support British nationals who chose to go to help fight against the Russian invasion.But defence secretary Ben Wallace has urged Britons not to travel to Ukraine, saying “very dangerous” situation could lead to them being killed.
The PM’s spokesperson also said: “We fully recognise the strength of feeling about British people wanting to support the Ukrainians following the Russian invasion … we currently advise against travel to Ukraine.”
Adam Forrest reports.
Boris Johnson blamed EU for Russia’s 2014 attacks on Ukraine and was branded ‘Putin apologist’
Boris Johnson blamed the EU for provoking Russia’s earlier attacks on Ukraine in 2014 and was branded a “Putin apologist” amid a storm of criticism.
The comments – made at the heart of the Brexit referendum battle, in 2016 – led to the future prime minister being likened to then Ukip leader Nigel Farage and being rebuked by Downing Street.
The current crisis has seen Mr Johnson arguing he is leading the West in confronting Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour, by sending weapons to Ukraine and demanding tough sanctions.
But, when leading the Brexit campaign, the then-Conservative backbencher took a very different stance over the annexation of Crimea and Putin’s arming of separatists in the east of Ukraine.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports.
Tory MP correct to delete tweet suggesting seasonal worker scheme for people fleeing war, say No10
Downing Street said Home Office minister Kevin Foster was right to delete his tweet suggesting the seasonal worker scheme was a route for Ukrainian people to flee war.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I think that tweet was rightly deleted, I think the UK has a proud history of supporting those in need. We’ve done that with Afghanistan and elsewhere and we will continue to do that.”
Armed forces minister says people shouldn’t travel to Ukraine to fight
Boris Johnson says Putin has made ‘colossal mistake’ as he hails heroic Ukraine resistance
Boris Johnson this morning told cabinet it was becoming clearer by the day that Vladimir Putin had made a “colossal mistake” in invading Ukraine, where “heroic” resistance was inflicting “significant casualties” on Russian forces.
The prime minister is to fly to Estonia and Poland on Tuesday as he continues his drive to build international support for Ukraine following the invasion, writes Andrew Woodcock.
He told ministers that Putin’s aggression “must fail” and said the UK was determined to continue building international pressure on the Russian president, saying: “The prime minister said we will continue to support Ukraine and its’ people in any way we can.”
UK signs Brexit trade deal with New Zealand that could damage economy
Britain has signed a trade deal with New Zealand, removing trade barriers between the two countries.
The deal is the latest agreement signed by the UK since Brexit and will end tariffs on goods between the countries, writes Jon Stone.
But the government’s own estimates for the deal published at the start of negotiations suggest that it will either damage the UK economy or have a negligible effect.
Liz Truss ally hits back at Kremlin claims on nuclear alert
An ally Liz Truss has struck back at the Kremlin’s claims her remarks played a role in Vladimir Putin ordering Russia’s nuclear deterrent on high alert.
“Nothing Liz has said warrants that sort of escalation. It’s clearly designed to distract from the situation on the ground in Ukraine,” the ally said.
“The Foreign Secretary has always talked about Nato in the context of it being a defensive alliance. Her point is that we stand by Article 5, and that we must do everything we can to help Ukraine short of putting boots on the ground.
“We take it very seriously and want to keep the situation calm.”
It’s time to block Russian companies funding Putin’s regime from UK ports
If we sanction Russia’s largest shipping company, Sovcomflot, then its major clients will have no excuse not to leave their contracts, writes Alistair Carmichael.
Mental health demand soars as pandemic leaves new mothers ‘isolated’
Tens of thousands of new mothers have been left “hopeless” and “isolated” during the pandemic, with the NHS seeing record numbers of referrals to maternal mental health services.
Requests for help from new, expectant and bereaved mothers jumped 40 per cent in 2021 compared to 2019, analysis by The Independent has revealed.
NHS data shows mental health referrals hit an all-time high of 23,673 in November last year, with average monthly referrals for the whole of 2021 running 21 per cent higher than the year before from 17,226 to 21,990.
Our health correspondent Rebecca Thomas has the details.
Irish premier casts doubt Ukraine could join EU ‘immediately’
The Irish premier has today cast doubt on the idea that Ukraine may be able to join the EU with immediate effect.
Speaking in Dublin, Micheal Martin said: “I don’t know whether it can be done immediately.
“But I certainly would be a proponent and supporter of accelerating it and making it very clear that they can become members of the European Union.
“I’ve always favoured the acceleration of the European perspective for countries in our neighbourhood.”
In a video speech President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for “Ukraine’s immediate accession” to the EU under a “special procedure”.
