Boris Johnson has mentioned the UK would provide help for a Ukrainian authorities in exile after warning the president he might have a “protected place” to flee from Russian troops.
The prime minister mentioned he has informed Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky he and his ministers might have to depart the nation within the wake of the Russia invasion.
“One of many factors I made to president Zelensky this morning was it is perhaps vital for him to discover a protected place for him and his cupboard to go,” the PM informed MPs.
Conservative MP Julian Lewis, who chairs the Intelligence and safety choose committee of parliament, requested: “If, as seems doubtless, Ukraine will get overwhelmed, will we provide to provide sanctuary to a authorities in exile pending Ukraine’s future freedom?”
Mr Johnson replied: “In fact we are going to give all help that we are able to – logistical or in any other case – as Britain at all times has achieved to governments in exile.”
The prime minister mentioned the UK will help the Ukrainians “economically, diplomatically, politically, and sure, militarily as nicely – I do know that in due time we are going to success”.
He mentioned the “unflinching objective” of his authorities might be to see Vladimir Putin’s “squalid” enterprise fail. “Now we see him for what’s – a blood-stained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest.”
The PM prolonged punitive measures on Thursday to hit 5 additional oligarchs, together with the Putin’s former son-in-law, and to deal with greater than 100 Russian companies, people and organisations.
Mr Johnson mentioned the UK will imminently ban Aeroflot from touching down planes within the UK and can freeze the property of all main Russian banks, together with instantly towards VTB.
Earlier on Thursday Ukraine’s overseas minister Dmytro Kuleba urged nations to ban Russia from the Swift funds system – saying those that resisted the transfer would have “blood on their fingers”.
Mr Johnson additionally indicated that the UK would work with allies to restrict Russian entry to the Swift worldwide cost system. “Nothing is off the desk,” he mentioned.
The PM is to guide one other assembly of the federal government’s Cobra emergencies committee to debate the Ukraine disaster, adopted by a gathering of the cupboard, this night.
The PM’s spokesman mentioned Whitehall departments, together with No 10, will fly the Ukrainian flag and might be lit up in yellow and blue on Thursday night in a gesture of solidarity.