Boris Johnson: UK to impose asset freeze on Russia's Putin and Lavrov
February 26, 2022, 3:53 am

Boris Johnson: UK to impose asset freeze on Russia's Putin and Lavrov

Russian president Vladimir Putin (File photo: Facebook page)

The BBC reported, UK PM Boris Johnson has said that the UK will introduce sanctions against Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov "imminently."

According to the UK's sanctions list they will face asset freezes - a measure also being imposed by the EU and the US - but not a travel ban.

The BBC said, the announcement comes a day after Russia invaded Ukraine, with tanks since entering the capital Kyiv.

Mr Johnson said the world must ensure Mr Putin's "act of aggression" fails.

Speaking to leaders of the Nato military alliance in a virtual meeting, Mr Johnson said a "catastrophe was engulfing Ukraine" and Mr Putin was engaging in a mission to "overturn the post-Cold War order".

The prime minister warned allies the Russian president's ambitions might not stop at Ukraine, adding it was "vital" Nato was strengthened now in response to what was a "Euro-Atlantic crisis with global consequences".

Ukraine message: 25 February 2022
To the people of Ukraine: Slava Ukraini. To the people of Russia: I do not believe this war is in your name. This crisis, this tragedy, can and must come to an end. Because the world needs a free and sovereign Ukraine.
Posted by Boris Johnson on Friday, February 25, 2022

Mr Johnson said the UK stood ready for any request from Nato to go further with military support.

On Friday evening, in a video posted on social media, he addressed the people of Russia directly, saying in Russian: "I do not believe this war is in your name."

He also spoke Ukrainian after urging an end to the conflict, saying "the world needs a free and sovereign Ukraine".

According to the BBC, It is unclear how significant Mr Putin and Mr Lavrov's assets in the US, EU and UK are and what practical impact the sanctions will have on them.

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It noted that EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the pair joined Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in being the only world leaders to be sanctioned by the EU.

Source: BBC

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Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.