All sides united in a standing ovation for the Ukrainian ambassador in the Commons today as Boris Johnson accused Vladimir Putin of “abhorrent” war crimes.
The Prime Minister claimed the “vice is tightening” on the Russian regime as he was urged to immediately ramp up sanctions against pro-Kremlin oligarchs.
He added: “What we’ve seen already from Putin’s regime in the use of the munitions they have already been dropping on innocent civilians, in my view, already fully qualifies as a war crime.”
Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, plans to open an investigation into atrocities in Ukraine.
The UK regards Russia ’s missile strikes on the holocaust memorial at Babi Yar and residential apartment blocks in Ukraine’s cities as war crimes.
Downing Street said other possible war crimes were occurring “almost hourly” in the beleaguered country.
Western allies fear that the attacks are a sign of a shift in Russian tactics towards the indiscriminate targeting of urban areas.
The United Nations today voted for an end to the invasion of Ukraine, calling on Russia to withdraw troops immediately.
In an emergency session of the general assembly, 141 of the 193 members voted for the resolution.
Only Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Eritrea voted against it, but long-standing Kremlin allies Cuba, Venezuela and China were among the 35 who abstained.
More than 2,000 civilians have died since the invasion began a week ago, Ukraine’s state emergency service said.
Mr Johnson told MPs: “Putin has gravely miscalculated.
“In his 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.”
At the start of Prime Minister’s Questions today, MPs across the Commons stood to applaud Ukrainian ambassador Vadym Prystaiko, who was sitting in the gallery above the chamber.
Acknowledging the tribute he put his hand on his heart and bowed his head.
The Government is matching donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine appeal, starting with £20million.
Keir Starmer called on the Government to speed up sanctions after UK officials admitted just nine oligarchs had been sanction so far.
The Labour leader asked why billionaire Roman Abramovich, who is attempting to sell his football club Chelsea FC, had so far escaped sanctions.
