By Ben Kerrigan-
The UK is to hit Russia with a barrage of economic sanctions after Boris Johnson warned Vladimir Putin is fixed on a “full-scale invasion of Ukraine”.
The prime minister’s warning came after a meeting of the government’s emergency COBRA committee, in which aiming for “the over-running, the subjugation of an independent, sovereign European country”.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
Mr Putin on Monday night formally gave recognition to two breakaway areas of eastern Ukraine as independent states and ordered Russian forces to carry out “peacekeeping” duties in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
There was International condemnation at UN Security Council as Putin recognized the independence of separatist regions
The PM said Russia and Mr Putin had now “plainly” violated Ukrainian sovereignty. “He’s sent troops in, he’s broken international law, he’s repudiated the Minsk agreements, and torn up the understanding from Budapest in 1994 that Ukraine’s territorial integrity would be respected,” he said.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
“He’s completely torn up international law and we will immediately institute a package of economic sanctions, which I think his people would expect.
“Targeted not just at entities in Donbass, in Luhansk and Donestsk, but in Russia itself targeting Russian economic interests as hard as we can.”
Mr Johnson is due to set out further details of the fresh sanctions in the House of Commons later on Tuesday.
The prime minister said these were the “first barrage” of measures as “there is more Russian irrational behaviour to come”.
“I’m afraid all the evidence is that President Putin is indeed bent on a full-scale invasion of the Ukraine,” the PM added.
Mr Johnson said Russian efforts to fully invade Ukraine would be “absolutely catastrophic” and said it was “absolutely vital” that Mr Putin should fail in a bid to conquer another European country.
But the PM also expressed his hope there still might be a diplomatic route out of the crisis.
“There will, of course, be pressure for continued conversation for negotiations,” Mr Johnson said.
“That’s right because whilst there’s still a discussion to be had, of course, a discussion should be had.
“The UK will be engaged actively in diplomacy at all levels to to try to find a way forward, other than through the violence that President Putin seems to be proposing.”
Mr Johnson said the new UK sanctions would hit “those Russian economic interests that have been supporting Russia’s war machine” in eastern Ukraine.
“They will hit Russia very hard and there is a lot more that we are going to do in the event of an invasion,” he added.
The PM suggested that further measures could see Russian companies prevented from raising capital on UK financial markets, as well as action to “unpeel the facade of Russian ownership of companies”.
He also urged other European economies to “snip the drip feed into our bloodstream” of the Nord Stream gas pipelines from Russia.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid earlier told Sky News the invasion of Ukraine “has begun” and Europeans were “waking up to a very dark day”, as tanks and armoured vehicles were seen overnight near Donetsk.
“It’s clear from what we have already seen and found out today that the Russians and President Putin have decided to attack the sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity,” Mr Javid told Kay Burley.
Mr Putin signed a decree stating that Russian armed forces will perform “peacekeeping functions” in Donetsk and Lugansk.
In a lengthy TV address, Mr Putin, claimed “modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia” and was part of its ancient lands.
The speech was in stark contrast to past denials from Russia that it planned to invade Ukraine and accused the West of “hysteria”.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar