MOSCOW WILL PAY FOR CHOOSING CONFRONTATION OVER DIALOGUE, VOWS TRUSS

LIZ Truss last night pledged Britain will hurt Russia with sanctions alongside the EU and US after Vladimir Putin recognised two separatist Ukrainian republics.

The Foreign Secretary said that declaring the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic as independent states “demonstrates Russia’s decision to choose a path of confrontation over dialogue”.

The UK will announce new sanctions today “in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, she said.

And she added: “We will coordinate our response with allies. We will not allow Russia’s violation of its international commitments to go unpunished.”

Last night the White House said US President Joe Biden will order fresh economic punishment while the EU also vowed a similar move.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European

United front... Liz Truss

Council president Charles Michel said Russia had committed an “illegal act”. And Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg condemned President Putin’s decision. He said: “This further undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts towards a resolution of the conflict. In 2015, the United Nations Security Council, which includes Russia, reaffirmed its full respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

“Donetsk and Luhansk are part of Ukraine.

“Moscow fuels the conflict in eastern Ukraine by providing financial and military support to the separatists. It is also trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine once again.”

Ms von der Leyen said: “The EU and its partners will react with unity, firmness and determination.”

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy tweeted: “The reasons Putin has given for this dangerous step are manufactured grievances and lies he has told his people.”