Russia to be hit with barrage of sanctions, says U.K. PM Johnson after meeting on Ukraine crisis

U.K. PM says President Putin is fixed on a “full scale invasion of Ukraine”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the U.K. will hit Russia with a “first barrage” of economic sanctions, warning that President Vladimir Putin is fixed on a "full-scale invasion of Ukraine".

He was speaking soon after chairing an emergency meeting of the Cabinet Office Briefing Room A (COBRA) on Tuesday in the wake of Mr. Putin's decision to recognise two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. The UK PM accused Mr. Putin of "plainly" violating Ukrainian sovereignty and "the over-running, the subjugation” of an independent, sovereign European country.

"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," said Mr. Johnson.

“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 Donbas, in Luhansk and Donestsk, but in Russia itself targeting Russian economic interests as hard as we can," he said.

The COBRA meeting was held as U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said given that tanks have been seen near one of the rebel regions of Donetsk, it can be concluded that the “invasion of Ukraine has begun". Details of the fresh sanctions against Russia are expected to be laid out in the House of Commons soon.

The COBRA meeting follows widespread condemnation of Russia’s move, which Mr. Johnson termed a violation of international law and an “ill omen and very dark time”, indicating that things are moving in the wrong direction in the region. Downing Street said the COBRA meeting would discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and coordinate the U.K. response, including agreeing a "significant package of sanctions to be introduced immediately".

“The United Kingdom will be announcing new sanctions on Russia in response to its breach of international law and attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. There will be severe economic consequences to its actions,” U.K. Ambassador Barbara Woodward told an emergency Security Council meeting on Ukraine.