Rabu, 02 Maret 2022

UK eyes seizing the property of sanctioned oligarchs - Financial Times

UK cabinet minister Michael Gove is drawing up plans to seize British property owned by Russian oligarchs with links to President Vladimir Putin, without paying them compensation.

Ukrainians fleeing their homeland could be housed in the lavish UK residences of oligarchs hit with sanctions under the proposals discussed by Gove, the levelling-up secretary, and other ministers, according to government insiders.

Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, who was accused by Labour on Wednesday of failing to take sufficient action against Putin’s allies following his invasion of Ukraine, is said to be supportive of Gove’s plans to seize the land and property of sanctioned oligarchs.

The proposals are likely to require legislation, and government lawyers have concerns the plans would be subject to legal challenges because they would undermine UK property rights. No final government decision has been reached on whether to proceed.

Gove’s plans would apply to nine oligarchs who have been sanctioned by the UK, including Kirill Shamalov, Russia’s youngest billionaire and Putin’s former son-in-law. The government has proposed these people will have their UK assets frozen and be unable to travel to Britain.

Liz Truss, UK foreign secretary, on Monday said the government was working through a “hit list” of oligarchs with links to Putin, with a view to imposing sanctions on them.

Johnson told the House of Commons on Wednesday: “The vice is tightening on the Putin regime and it will continue to tighten.”

One government insider involved in Gove’s plans said “freezing assets is not enough” and officials in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities were “looking at seizing the land and property of sanctioned individuals”.

A Whitehall official said civil servants were examining “very carefully” what steps would be needed to hand powers to ministers to “swiftly acquire specific land and property in the UK owned by a sanctioned person, without the need to pay them compensation”.

Another government insider said ministers were discussing using oligarchs’ properties for housing Ukrainians who have had to flee the war in their country.

Johnson is coming under pressure from Labour to match EU sanctions introduced since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which cover prominent Russian oligarchs, Kremlin officials and other Putin allies.

While the UK has targeted nine oligarchs to date, the EU has sanctioned more than 25 Russians with links to Putin.

Sir Keir Starmer, Labour leader, on Wednesday asked Johnson why Igor Shuvalov, Russia’s former deputy prime minister, was not on the UK’s sanctions list given he had already been targeted by the EU.

Starmer used parliamentary privilege to repeat claims that Shuvalov owns two flats worth about £11.4mn on a combined basis in central London.

“Last week, Putin summoned to the Kremlin the cronies who prop up his regime,” said Starmer. “They dip their hands in the blood of Putin’s war.

“Among them was Igor Shuvalov, Putin’s former deputy prime minister. Shuvalov owns two flats, not five minutes walk from this House. They’re worth over £11mn. He is on the EU sanctions list, but he’s not on the UK sanctions list. When will the prime minister sort this out?”

Starmer said Shuvalov’s properties were registered under a “shell company” and the true owner was only known because of information obtained by Alexei Navalny, the Russian dissident and leading opponent of Putin.

Johnson said the UK government was willing to “sanction any individual [and] any company connected” to Russia’s leadership, but would not comment on individual cases.

The government on Monday unveiled a much-delayed economic crime bill that will establish a register requiring anonymous foreign owners of UK land and property to reveal their identities. It is meant to stop people hiding their ownership of property behind shell companies registered in offshore tax havens.

Starmer said that Labour supported the economic crime bill but warned the new rules would not come into force for existing foreign owners of UK property until 18 months after the legislation is approved.

“Why are we giving Putin’s cronies 18 months to quietly launder their money out of the UK property market and into another safe haven?” he asked.

Johnson said the government would work with Labour to “strengthen and accelerate the package of measures” outlined in the bill.

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2022-03-02 19:37:50Z
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Ukraine invasion: Boris Johnson accuses Putin of 'war crime' after MPs give rare standing ovation in Commons to Ukraine ambassador - Sky News

Boris Johnson has accused Vladimir Putin of committing "a war crime" as he spoke during a session of PMQs preceded by a standing ovation for Ukraine's ambassador.

As the Russian president's attempt to invade Ukraine entered a seventh day, the prime minister condemned Mr Putin's "abhorrent" attack on his country's neighbour.

"What we have seen already from Vladimir Putin's regime - in the use of munitions they have already been dropping on innocent civilians - in my view already fully qualifies as a war crime," Mr Johnson told the House of Commons.

"I know the ICC [International Criminal Court] prosecutor is already investigating and I'm sure the whole House will support that."

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with the head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin in Moscow, Russia March 2, 2022. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Image: The PM accused Vladimir Putin of a 'war crime' in Ukraine

The Foreign Office later confirmed the UK plus 37 ally nations have referred Russia to the ICC to investigate "war crimes in Ukraine". It is the largest referral in the ICC's history.

As the nations have grouped together, the ICC prosecutor will not need to get judicial approval to begin so they can start the investigation straight away.

Mr Johnson called Russia's invasion "barbaric" and said all 38 countries are "crystal clear that Putin cannot commit these horrific acts with impunity".

More on Prime Minister's Questions

Kherson 'completely surrounded by Russians' - follow latest updates

PM condemns Putin's 'abhorrent assault'

In an intelligence update on Wednesday morning, the Ministry of Defence said heavy Russian artillery and airstrikes had continued to target built-up areas in the past 24 hours.

More than 2,000 civilians have so far died in a week of war with Russia, according to Ukraine's state emergency service - although Sky News has not yet verified this information independently.

There are other unconfirmed claims of Russia using thermobaric weapons and widely-banned cluster munitions.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace earlier told Sky News that Mr Putin's actions would get "harder, tougher and more indiscriminate" as his invasion attempt lags "considerably" behind schedule.

Mr Johnson, who spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday morning, told MPs that the Russian president had "gravely miscalculated" in the "abhorrent assault on a sovereign nation".

"He has underestimated the extraordinary fortitude of the Ukrainian people and the unity and resolve of the free world in standing up to his barbarism," the PM told the Commons.

Downing Street later said possible war crimes were occurring "almost hourly" in Ukraine.

"Formally it will be for a criminal court to make that ruling but I think no one can be in any doubt that what we're seeing daily, almost hourly now, are horrific acts that would certainly appear to be war crimes," the PM's official spokesman said when asked about Mr Johnson's comments at PMQs.

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'Putin miscalculated his assault'

MPs stand to applaud Ukraine's ambassador

At the beginning of Wednesday's PMQs, the entire Commons chamber stood to applaud Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, as he sat in the gallery to observe proceedings.

Addressing Mr Prystaiko after MPs had ended their applause, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle noted - to some laughter - that MPs "generally do not allow applause in the chamber".

"But I think on this occasion the House quite rightly want to demonstrate our respect and support for your country and its people at this most difficult time," Sir Lindsay added.

Starmer calls for 'every oligarch' to be sanctioned

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer used PMQs to urge Mr Johnson to bring forward sanctions against "every oligarch" and "crack open every shell company" in order to put further pressure on Mr Putin's regime.

Sir Keir asked why Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, who he described as a "person of interest to the Home Office because of his links to the Russian state", had not yet been sanctioned.

He also asked why action had not been taken by the government against Igor Shuvalov, Mr Putin's former deputy prime minister, who he accused of being among those Kremlin "cronies" who "dip their hand in the blood of Putin's war".

The Labour leader told MPs that Mr Shuvalov owns two flats "not five minutes' walk" from parliament that are worth over £11m.

Soccer Football - Champions League Final - Manchester City v Chelsea - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - May 29, 2021 Chelsea's Thiago Silva celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League Pool via REUTERS/Michael Steele
Image: Sir Keir Starmer asked why Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had not yet been sanctioned by the UK

PM vows UK will 'continue to tighten noose'

Mr Johnson would not comment on individual cases but said the UK would "continue to tighten the noose around Putin's regime" with sanctions and promised a "full list of all those associated" with the Russian president would be published.

He highlighted "unprecedented measures" brought forward by the government in response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

"I know that the whole House will agree with me that nothing we do in rooting out corruption and corrupt money in London, or any other capital, should for one minute... distract for where the true blame for this crisis lies, which is wholly and exclusively and entirely with Vladimir Putin and his regime," the PM said.

"I'm glad that the benches opposite are as resolved as we are that Putin must fail in his venture and that we must ensure that we protect a sovereign, free and independent Ukraine, and that's what we're going to do.

"With the unity of this House, with the continued heroism and resolve of the Ukrainian people, which is so amazing that we've seen over the last few days.

"And with the unity of the West that we're seeing, which I think has also taken aback President Putin, I've no doubt at all that he will fail and we will succeed in protecting Ukraine."

Number 10 said a "significant proportion" of people who are set to appear on the government's list of people in Britain deemed to have links with Mr Putin's regime will be sanctioned.

Read more: Abramovich slaps £3bn price tag on Chelsea as Russian sets bid deadline

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2022-03-02 17:43:52Z
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Man arrested on suspicion of murder after bodies of divorced couple found 15 miles apart in Gloucestershire - Sky News

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a divorced couple were found dead 15 miles apart in Gloucestershire.

A property near a picturesque Cotswolds village has been cordoned off and forensic officers are on the scene as the investigation is underway.

Although formal identification has not yet taken place, those who died have been named as Clive Warrington, 67, and Valerie Warrington, 73.

The suspected murder scene at Sherborne Place in  Cheltenham
Image: The suspected murder scene at Sherborne Place in Cheltenham
Police outside a property near Barton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire as a murder probe into the deaths of two people continues
Image: Police outside a property near Barton-on-the-Water

The victims had been married - and later divorced - and both sustained stab wounds.

A man is in custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder.

Officers were called to Sherborne Place in Cheltenhamat around 6.25am on Wednesday where the body of Mr Warrington was found, Gloucestershire Police said.

An investigation was launched and the body of Ms Warrington was later discovered at an address in the rural village of Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds, some 15 miles away.

More on Gloucestershire

A spokesperson for the force said: "Those involved in the incident are known to each other and officers are not currently seeking anyone else in connection."

Police outside a property near Barton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire as a murder probe into the deaths of two people continues
Image: A property was seen cordoned off as the investigation is underway
Police outside a property near Barton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire as a murder probe into the deaths of two people continues
Image: A murder probe into the deaths of two people continues

Detectives are keen to hear from any witnesses or anyone who may have dashcam or CCTV footage that could be relevant to the investigation.

Information can be provided online quoting incident 57 of 2 March or by phone on 101.

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2022-03-02 17:03:45Z
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Middlesbrough mayor says banning ballet over Russian name wrong - BBC

Stock picture of ballet dancer
Getty Images

Middlesbrough's mayor says it would be "completely wrong" to stop a ballet company performing because it uses Russia in its stage name.

Sleeping Beauty is due to be performed in the town by the Russian National Ballet, but some have called for it to be stopped due to the Ukraine invasion.

The show is produced by UK-based Amande Concerts which performs under the name and has no political links to Russia.

Darlington Hippodrome pulled shows by the same company's Russian State Opera.

The Billingham Forum Theatre has also decided to cancel October's performance of Swan Lake.

Andy Preston, Middlesbrough's independent-elected mayor, said stopping the performance at the town's theatre in October would be unfair.

Andy Preston outside the town hall
Getty Images

"It would be completely wrong to ban a UK-based company and their performers - some from Ukraine - who don't appear to have any links with the Russian state," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"My understanding is that this is an international cast of performers who, for artistic reasons, use the name of Russia in their stage name.

"We need to keep hold of reality here."

The advert on Middlesbrough Theatre's website showing National Ballet
Middlesbrough Theatre

Middlesbrough Theatre's website has since referred to the show as the "National Ballet". November's performance of The Nutcracker, performed by the same company, is also due to go ahead as planned.

The production has also changed its performance name at venues including the Grand Theatre in Blackpool.

"Like anyone sensible, my heart and head is with Ukraine right now and I want to see Putin disappear," Mr Preston said.

"But I am not anti-Russian or against Russian people, who are increasingly turning against their despotic leader.

"Not too long ago when our country was at war with Germany and Italy, some people turned on German and Italian neighbours they'd known for decades - just because of where they were born. We mustn't let that happen again."

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original post on Facebook

A performance of Madame Butterfly by the company's opera brand went ahead on Sunday at Newcastle's Tyne Theatre and Opera House.

Derek Cooper, manager of Billingham Forum Theatre, said the production had to be "viable" in order for the tour to the continue, and there had been a "split opinion" from customers about whether the show should go ahead.

"It was a really hard decision to make and we made it jointly," he said.

"It's a shame, it's a company and a guy I have been using for a decade - the performances are top-notch.

"It has already been rescheduled because of Covid - it's a double whammy for them."

Middlesbrough town hall lit up in the colours of the Ukraine flag
Middlesbrough Council

A statement from Amande Concerts, which is registered to a Canterbury address and has said it strongly condemns the violence, said it understood there was a potential for confusion over the name, but there is "no link between Amande Concerts to the Russian 'state' as a political entity."

"This brand acts as an umbrella for the presentation of artists of many different nationalities that have graduated from artistic institutions in Russia and countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union," it said.

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2022-03-02 13:42:49Z
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Family demand £66 Waterworld refund after Annabelle, 5, ends up in A&E - Stoke-on-Trent Live

A family-of-three are demanding a £65.50 refund - after a nightmare trip to Waterworld.

Ashley and Jessica Curwood splashed out £60 on tickets, £3.50 on parking, and £2.50 on a locker after travelling from their Nottinghamshire home for an early birthday treat for five-year-old daughter Annabelle.

But they say they suffered sore eyes and chesty coughs within 15 minutes of getting into the water last Sunday morning due to the chlorine levels. They say other families had similar complaints.

Read more Stoke-on-Trent news

Now Waterworld has hit back at the complaints and says there were no health and safety breaches.

The family had arrived at the Festival Park attraction at 10am and got into the water at 10.30am.

Ashley, aged 32, said: “Our eyes were stinging really badly and there were quite a few people coughing. We looked at the lifeguards and their eyes looked like they were streaming. They were going in the first aid box and getting the eye wash out to wash their eyes.

“I spoke to one of them and asked what was happening. They said something had happened with one of the pumps and there was too much chlorine in the water.

“Your eyes always sting when you go to a swimming pool but this was quite extreme. You were constantly rubbing your eyes. We had to go and wash them out with water. It was mainly my daughter we were worried about.”

Ashley with his wife and two children: Annabelle and Nancy

Ashley added: “We were advised to go out of the pool for half an hour, wash our eyes out, and try not to go under the water. We tried to carry on but it was getting quite bad.

“Our daughter started coughing a lot and she said her chest was hurting. She went and sat on the side, I got her a drink of water. She was upset and didn’t want to go back into the water.

“I spoke to a member of staff at around 12pm and they said we had been in here for a few hours so they couldn't do anything about it in terms of a refund. He said they could offer us some mini-golf tickets or change our pass so we could stay all day.

“I spoke to my wife and my daughter but she didn’t want to stay in the pool. We said we will do mini-golf. But when we got changed and everything my daughter said she didn’t want to do that, she wanted to go home. We told them we didn’t want to do it anymore.

"We were told it was either mini-golf or tickets to come back another day. We didn’t want to come back. I’m not happy about it."

Waterworld at Festival Park

The couple later called NHS 111 and Annabelle was advised to go to A&E.

Ashley added: “My wife was in there for about three-and-a-half hours which was longer than you got in the pool. They said she was not in any danger but they confirmed it was 'chlorine gas poisoning'.

“We have to watch her for the next few days and make sure her breathing is fine and that she is not coughing up blood.”

Ashley has made a complaint to Stoke-on-Trent City Council's trading standards.

He said: “As soon as we got her away from it she was feeling fine. I am massively disappointed with the company.

“We had an hour in the pool and the rest of the time we were out washing our eyes.

“If they had just apologised, here is your money back, and we hope you come back again; we probably would have.

“The main thing I wanted was my money back, it’s not cheap. It cost around £60 to go there. £3.50 for parking and then £2.50 for a locker.

“It takes about 55 minutes for us to get there. I said we don’t fancy coming back, it’s not a two minute drive for us. I’ve emailed the website to ask how I can make a formal complaint.”

Waterworld has been operating for 32 years and welcomed more than 13 million visitors. It had 2,000 customers on Sunday.

The company has declined to comment on the Curwood's specific issues and complaints.

A Waterworld spokesman said: "All pool tests and operational plantroom procedures were followed and adhered to fully, as is the norm. There were no breaches in any health and safety protocols.

"As a business we ensure our customers are dealt with in a fair manner. We do our best to make sure all customers leave with a smile.

"We believe the manager on duty did all he could to address the situation and offer a remedy."

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2022-03-02 05:00:00Z
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Selasa, 01 Maret 2022

Ukraine crisis: Activist breaks down in tears as she confronts Boris Johnson about lack of no-fly zone - Sky News

A Ukrainian broke down in tears as she made an emotional plea directly to Boris Johnson for the UK to help establish a no-fly zone above the skies of her homeland.

Daria Kaleniuk confronted the prime minister at a news conference, in Poland's capital Warsaw, as she explained how her family and work colleagues remained at threat from the Russian invasion.

"You are talking about the stoicism of Ukrainian people," she told Mr Johnson.

Ukraine-Russia news live: Johnson visits Poland and Estonia to show support for NATO allies

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sits with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at the Chancellery in Warsaw, Poland March 1, 2022. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS
Image: Boris Johnson met with Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki to discuss the Ukraine crisis

"But Ukrainian women and Ukrainian children are in deep fear because of bombs and missiles which are coming from the sky.

"Ukrainian people are desperately asking for the West to protect our sky. We are asking for the no-fly zone.

"You are saying in response it will trigger World War Three, but what is the alternative?

"To observe how our children - instead of planes - are protecting NATO from the missiles and bombs?

"What's the alternative to the no-fly zone?"

Ms Kaleniuk described how NATO planes were currently in Poland and Romania as she urged the alliance to "at least" consider putting an air shield above western Ukraine, in order to allow women and children to travel to their country's borders and seek sanctuary.

Daria Kaleniuk, activist from NGO Anticorruption Action Centre speaks at a news conference at the British Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
Image: She also asked why Roman Abramovich was not facing sanctions

In other developments:

• Boris Johnson says more than 200,000 Ukrainians could be allowed to join family in UK
• Constant shelling is happening in port city Mariupol - with women and children killed, says mayor
• More than 520,000 refugees have already fled Ukraine, according to UN
• Australia to give $50m in missiles, ammo and other hardware after previously pledging only non-lethal aid

She highlighted how the UK had provided security assurances to Ukraine as part of a 1994 memorandum signed in Budapest.

And she also questioned why Mr Johnson had travelled to Poland on Tuesday and not Ukraine.

"Because you are afraid, because NATO is not willing to defend, because NATO is afraid of World War Three," Ms Kaleniuk added.

"But it has already started and it is Ukrainian children who are there taking the hit."

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Huge blast in Ukraine's second city

Ms Kaleniuk, who is executive director of Ukraine's Anti-Corruption Action Centre, asked why more Russian oligarchs - and their family members - were not being sanctioned by the West.

"You are talking about more sanctions, prime minister, but [Chelsea football club owner] Roman Abramovich is not sanctioned," she told Mr Johnson.

"He is in London, his children are not in the bombardments, his children are there in London.

"Putin's children are in the Netherlands, in Germany, in mansions. Where are all these mansions seized? I don't see that.

"I see my family members and my team members, I see that we are crying."

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Zelenskyy urges no-fly zone

In response, the PM told Ms Kaleniuk he was "acutely conscious that there is not enough that we can do, as the UK government, to help in the way that you want".

"I've got to be honest about that," Mr Johnson, as he reiterated his opposition to NATO forces trying to establish air control over Russia above Ukraine.

"When you talk about the no fly zone, as I said to [Ukrainian president] Volodymyr Zelenskyy... unfortunately the implication of that is the UK will be engaged in shooting down Russian planes, would be engaged in direct combat with Russia.

"That is not something that we can do or that we've envisaged. I think the consequences of that will be truly very, very difficult to control."

Mr Johnson also reiterated his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression against Ukraine was "doomed to fail".

"It will be extremely difficult for him to continue on the path that he is on," he said.

"In the meantime, as you rightly say, there is going to be a period of suffering for the people of Ukraine for which Putin and Putin alone is responsible.

Where Russian forces have reached in Ukraine
Image: Where Russian forces have reached in Ukraine

"He's taken a decision that many people around the world find absolutely inexplicable as well as inexcusable.

"It will take time, I'm afraid, for us to come through this period.

"All we can do in the meantime is help people like your crew and your family to get out, to get to safety, help them with all the humanitarian support that we can provide, help them to come to the UK and we certainly will.

"But I cannot pretend to you that this is something the UK can fix by military means and I think it would be wrong of me to do so."

However, the PM did suggest that Mr Putin's "misadventure" had galvanised fresh thinking on European security - as he highlighted Germany's decision to boost defence spending, as the EU's promise to supply arms to Ukraine.

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2022-03-01 13:18:03Z
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Ukraine invasion: Boris Johnson says more than 200,000 Ukrainians could be allowed to join family in UK - Sky News

More than 200,000 Ukrainians could be allowed to join family in the UK amid the Russian invasion, Boris Johnson has said.

Speaking during a visit to Poland, the prime minister said the UK will "make it easier for Ukrainians already living in the UK to bring their relatives to our country".

Ukraine-Russia news live: Johnson visits Poland and Estonia to show support for NATO allies

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UK rules out visa waiver for Ukrainians

Key developments:
At least 70 troops killed in Russian attack on Okhtyrka military base
CCTV shows a missile strike on a government building in Kharkiv - causing huge explosion

Military action turning into 'perilous misadventure' for Vladimir Putin, Raab says

UK 'extending family scheme'

Mr Johnson said exact numbers are "hard to calculate" but "they could be more than 200,000".

He added: "What we are going to do is we are extending the family scheme so that actually very considerable numbers would be eligible ... you could be talking about a couple of hundred thousand, maybe more.

More on Russia

"Additionally, we are going to have a humanitarian scheme and then a scheme by which UK companies and citizens can sponsor individual Ukrainians to come to the UK."

The PM's spokesman said Ukrainians living in the UK will be allowed to bring in "adult parents, grandparents, children over 18 and siblings" in addition to immediate family members.

Home Secretary Priti Patel will make a statement to MPs around 1.30pm setting out further details.

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PM berated over Ukraine

Speaking in the Commons on Monday, she ruled out a visa waiver for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict due to security concerns.

Around 100,000 Ukrainians had been expected to be eligible to come to the UK, but this has now increased to 200,000 as a result of the scheme being widened.

The PM's spokesman said these numbers were "indicative only" as it was "impossible to predict" how many people would take up the chance to come.

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'War crimes will be held to account'

"We think it is right to have that open offer so that they can bring loved ones and be reunited with them should they wish to make that journey," he said.

Regarding plans for a scheme allowing organisations and individuals to sponsor Ukrainians to come to the UK, the spokesman said the government would liaise with the UN refugee agency to identify people on the border and work with councils, the devolved administrations and individuals and organisations who want to be involved.

More than half a million Ukrainians have fled the country after Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine last week.

Ukraine invasion a 'colossal mistake' by Putin

Mr Johnson also said he is "more convinced than ever" that Putin's military campaign will fail and that he had made a "colossal mistake" by invading Ukraine.

Mr Johnson said Putin was using "barbaric and indiscriminate tactics against innocent civilians" and was prepared to "bomb tower blocks, to send missiles into tower blocks, to kill children, as we are seeing in increasing numbers".

He said evidence of the Russian president's attacks on civilians could be used in a future trial at The Hague.

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'Russia likely to escalate invasion'

The PM also suggested ways in which sanctions against Russia could be strengthened, saying: "There is plainly more to be done on Swift, we can tighten up yet further on Swift, even though it has had a dramatic effect already I think we do need to go further.

"There's more to be done on Sberbank, there's more to be done on the freezing of Russian assets.

"I think there's genuine amazement and dismay in Russia about what has happened already but there is more to be done."

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Zelenskyy urges no-fly zone

Mr Johnson said there could be more "severing of sporting links" and "cracking down on the billionaires associated with Vladimir Putin".

Speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned "nothing and no one is off the table" when it comes to sanctions.

The Russian president, he said, had "fatally underestimated" the resistance of the Ukrainians and the resolve of the West to act amid what he described as an "unfolding disaster in our European continent".

The PM paid tribute to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, praising his "leadership and courage", adding: "I think he has inspired and mobilised not only his own people, he is inspiring and mobilising the world in outrage at what is happening in Ukraine."

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMikQFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS91a3JhaW5lLWludmFzaW9uLWJvcmlzLWpvaG5zb24tc2F5cy11ay1zdGFuZHMtcmVhZHktdG8tdGFrZS1yZWZ1Z2Vlcy1mbGVlaW5nLWZpZ2h0aW5nLWluLWNvbnNpZGVyYWJsZS1udW1iZXJzLTEyNTU0NjU30gGVAWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2FtcC91a3JhaW5lLWludmFzaW9uLWJvcmlzLWpvaG5zb24tc2F5cy11ay1zdGFuZHMtcmVhZHktdG8tdGFrZS1yZWZ1Z2Vlcy1mbGVlaW5nLWZpZ2h0aW5nLWluLWNvbnNpZGVyYWJsZS1udW1iZXJzLTEyNTU0NjU3?oc=5

2022-03-01 12:22:30Z
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