Boris Johnson will urge Western leaders to step up sanctions against Russia – as ministers warned that Vladimir Putin will face ‘maximum pain’ if he presses ahead with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Prime Minister will use a virtual summit of G7 leaders, including Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, to make the case for tougher international measures against the Russian president and his cronies.
Liz Truss said British officials had drawn up a ‘long list’ of Russian oligarchs and companies that will face sanctions if the Kremlin orders its troops to invade Ukraine.
The Foreign Secretary said Britain would act with Western allies to inflict ‘maximum pain’ on Putin’s regime.
Boris Johnson will urge Western leaders to step up sanctions against Russia – as ministers warned that Vladimir Putin will face ‘maximum pain’ if he presses ahead with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden of the Moscow's Kremlin in Moscow
Ministers are understood to be drawing up plans to hit Russian energy, defence and chemicals firms; to stop the Kremlin borrowing on the UK financial markets, and to block Russia from the Swift payment system, which accounts for about half of all high-value international payments.
The Government faced criticism this week after placing sanctions on just three oligarchs and five banks after Putin’s decision to send in troops to support separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Mr Johnson insisted there was ‘more to come’, with measures that will ‘hit Putin where it hurts’.
It came as Eurocrats agreed to the toughest sanctions in the bloc’s history by striking at the heart of Putin’s inner circle.
The Prime Minister will use a virtual summit of G7 leaders, including Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron (pictured during a joint press conference with Vladimir Putin) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, to make the case for tougher international measures against the Russian president and his cronies
Ambassadors agreed to travel bans and asset freezes for more than 500 people accused of being linked to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
They include high-profile officials such
