Ukraine invasion: Boris Johnson to impose sanctions on Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov over 'mission to overturn post-Cold War order'
The EU had already sanctioned President Putin and his foreign minister after similarly being accused by Ukraine's president of failing to react hard and fast enough against Russian aggression.
Friday 25 February 2022 22:52, UK
The UK will impose direct sanctions on Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov imminently, Boris Johnson has told NATO leaders.
At a virtual meeting with world leaders, the prime minister said his government will personally sanction the Russian president and Mr Lavrov over their "revanchist mission" to overturn the post-Cold War order.
The EU has already sanctioned President Putin and his foreign minister after similarly being accused by Ukraine's president of failing to react hard and fast enough against Russian aggression.
Later on Friday evening, the US also announced its intention to place individual sanctions on the pair.
Live updates as Putin authorises military operation
Following the NATO meeting, Mr Johnson also said that "immediate action" must be taken to ban Russia from the SWIFT payment platform to "inflict maximum pain" on President Putin.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the government is introducing the sanctions against President Putin and Mr Lavrov "in response to Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine".
"We will not stop inflicting economic pain on the Kremlin until Ukrainian sovereignty is restored," she added.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also confirmed he has extended a flight ban meaning "no Russian private jet can fly in UK airspace, or touchdown - effective immediately".
Key developments:
- Russian invasion reaches Ukraine's capital Kyiv
- Putin urges Ukrainian military to overthrow country's leaders
- Russia kicked out of Eurovision
- Ukraine troops tell Russian warship 'go f*** yourself' before being killed
Ukrainian President Volodymyr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y had called on both the UK and EU to strengthen their package of measures hitting oligarchs supporting the Putin regime and freezing Russian bank assets.
It came after Kyiv was hit by air strikes and fighting got closer to the capital.
PM: Invasion 'Euro-Atlantic crisis with global consequences'
Mr Johnson warned fellow NATO members that "the Russian president's ambitions might not stop there and that this was a Euro-Atlantic crisis with global consequences", a Number 10 spokesperson said.
Less than an hour earlier, Western officials warned that Russia could use thermobaric weapons against Ukrainian forces if they continue to hold up their advance.
Explainer: What is the SWIFT global payments system?
At present, Ukrainian soldiers are believed to be holding up the Russian advance on Kyiv - with heavy armour still 50km away from the capital.
"My fear would be that if they don't meet their timescale and objectives they would be indiscriminate in their use of violence," one Western official said.
Read more: Four ways the Russian invasion of Ukraine could end
In the early hours of this morning, the prime minister held a call with Mr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y as invading forces closed in on Kyiv after a barrage of air strikes on cities and military bases.
Ukraine's president updated Mr Johnson on the "terrible developments" in Kyiv and said he "needs the support of partners more than ever" as he demanded "effective counteraction" and for sanctions to be strengthened.
The prime minister assured Mr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y that "the world is united in its horror at what Putin is doing" and praised the "bravery and heroism of the Ukrainian people", Downing Street said.
Wallace: More than 450 Russian troops killed
Earlier this morning, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Sky News that more than 450 Russian troops had been killed, as a fierce resistance meant Moscow "failed" on the main objective on the first day of fighting.
Mr Wallace said it was the UK government's view that President Putin intends "to invade the whole of Ukraine".
Read more: Putin urges Ukrainian military to overthrow country's leaders
But he said Russia was "behind its hoped-for timetable" in the military action against its neighbour.
PM hits Russia with 'largest set of sanctions every imposed' by the UK
Mr Johnson on Thursday hit Russia with what he described as the "largest set of sanctions ever imposed anywhere by the UK government", after the attack on Ukraine.
Read more: Boris Johnson unleashes UK's 'largest set of sanctions ever' on Russia
Making a statement in the Commons, Mr Johnson added that there are also plans to introduce legislation that would limit the amount of deposits Russian nationals will be able to hold in UK bank accounts.
The prime minister spoke with leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force today - made up of the UK, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway.
Explainer: Who are the oligarchs with Kremlin ties targeted in UK's new sanctions against Russia?
Meanwhile, Russia's foreign minister Mr Lavrov said Moscow would be ready to hold talks with Kyiv but only once Ukraine's military had laid down its arms.
He also said the Kremlin did not want "neo-Nazis" to govern Ukraine.