Britain and its Western allies will increase economic pressure on Russia and want to see if more can be done to “shorten” the war in Ukraine such as preventing President Vladimir Putin from accessing its gold reserves, the prime minister said. Boris Johnson has said.
Speaking ahead of the NATO meeting in Brussels, he said the Russian leader has already crossed the “red line” in Ukraine with his “brutalism” and indiscriminate tactics against innocent civilians and should appear before the International Criminal Court. .
“We need to do more,” he told LBC Radio. “And so we need to do more financially. Can we do more to prevent him from using up his gold reserves, for example, in addition to his cash reserves?
“The more pressure we put on now, especially on things like gold, I believe the more we can shorten the war.”
He compared Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Winston Churchill – who led Britain to victory during World War II – for giving “their roar” to the Ukrainian people.
Mr Johnson said the leader had been an “absolutely brilliant … a remarkable person” in garnering global support for Ukraine.
“He knows, as Churchill said of himself, that he may not be a lion but he is privileged to roar. It is the Ukrainian people who have been lions, and they expressed their will and their sense of defiance. Is.”
The prime minister is joining fellow NATO leaders in Brussels for an emergency summit later to discuss the latest situation – just a month after the start of the Russian offensive.
major events
According to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian forces are still trying to resume offensive operations to capture the cities of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol.
• An estimated 100,000 people are trapped in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol with no access to food, water or heating
• About 4,554 people were evacuated from Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors on Wednesday, which is significantly less than the previous day
• Russia is moving new units near the Ukrainian border, as well as calling in troops who have recently served in Syria
• A Russian regulator blocked Google News in the country saying it allowed access to fake content that President Putin described as a “military operation” in Ukraine
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NATO: ‘Putin made a big mistake’
US President Biden to meet with NATO, G7 and EU allies to discuss war in Ukraine
US President Joe Biden will also be there for the NATO summit – joined via video link by the Ukrainian president.
This will be followed by a meeting of the G7 grouping of nations, and then the European Council – the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states – during which it is likely to focus on further sanctions against Moscow and ways to cut dependence. On Russian gas.
Mr Biden, who has vowed to avoid provoking “world war three”, will attend all three summits to discuss with President Putin and allies about the next steps in response to his invasion of Ukraine.
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Russian ambassador denies war crimes
Putin made a ‘big mistake’: NATO chief
The NATO secretary general has said Vladimir Putin had made a “big mistake” and underestimated the “strength and bravery” of the Ukrainian people, who are “fighting the invading Russian army” with significant support from their allies.
As he arrived for talks, Mr Stoltenberg said there was “a new sense of urgency” about the defense of Europe, which is why the presence of NATO troops in the eastern part of Europe has been increased.
About 40,000 troops are already spread from the Baltic to the Black Sea. He said discussions on deploying “four new battle groups” in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia are on the agenda.
But he reiterated that Ukraine would not have NATO troops on the ground or aircraft in the air to avoid escalation of the conflict as it would increase the risk of “an all-out war between NATO and Russia”.
He stressed the importance of North America and Europe standing together, saying: “We are the strongest alliance in the world and as long as we stand together we are safe.”
The 30-nation military alliance will also agree to send Ukrainians equipment that can help them defend themselves against Russian biological, chemical and nuclear attacks.
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Drone captured Mariupol devastation
Is the tide turning for Ukraine?
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to address the NATO and EU summits by video-link.
He has failed to get NATO to create a no-fly zone on his country, but several countries have shown their support by imposing sanctions on Russia and donating arms and aid to Ukraine.
According to British military intelligence, there are signs that Ukraine may be starting to turn the tide against Russian troops, with the UK Defense Ministry suggesting that Russian forces have been exhausted and “almost certainly thousands during the invasion of Ukraine.” There have been casualties”.
“Russia is now seeking to replace these significant losses to its reservists and concept manpower, as well as to private military companies and foreign mercenaries,” it said in its latest update.
“It is not clear how these groups will integrate into Russian ground forces in Ukraine and what effect this will have on combat effectiveness.”
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‘Say Ukraine matters’
‘Ukraine matters’: make yourself visible and heard, says Zelensky
The Russian military struggles with supply problems and low military morale, as well as steadfast resistance from Ukrainians.
Moscow – increasingly isolated from the rest of the world through financial sanctions – has accused Kyiv of stalling peace talks by making proposals unacceptable to Russia. Ukraine has said it is ready to negotiate but will not surrender or accept a Russian ultimatum.
On Wednesday night, Mr Zelensky called on people around the world to stand with Ukraine and against the war on Thursday, a month after the invasion began.
He said: “Come from your offices, your homes, your schools and universities. Come in the name of peace.
“Come up with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, support freedom, support life. Come to your squares, your streets. Make yourself visible and heard.
“Say that people matter. Freedom matters. Peace matters. Ukraine matters.”
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