PM warns ‘Russian mothers’ over war
Boris Johnson has warned many “Russian mothers’ sons will not come home” if Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine.
The Prime Minister also predicted Russia would face “ferocious” Ukrainian resistance as he promised to impose “heavy economic sanctions” in the event of an invasion.
In a statement in the Commons yesterday, Mr Johnson also shared fears any invasion would result in “bloodshed comparable to the first war in Chechnya or Bosnia”.
He said: “This time the force arrayed on Ukraine’s frontier comprises over 100,000 troops, far bigger than anything Russia has deployed against her before.
“If the worst happens, and the destructive firepower of the Russian army were to engulf Ukraine’s towns and cities, I shudder to contemplate the tragedy that would ensue.
“Ukrainianshaveeverymoral and legal right to defend their country and I believe their resistance would be dogged and tenacious, and the bloodshedcomparabletothefirstwar in Chechnya or Bosnia, or any other conflict that Europe has endured since 1945.
“No-onewouldgainfromsuch a catastrophe.
“The British Army leads the Nato battle group in Estonia and if Russia invades Ukraine, we would look to contribute to any new Nato deployments to protect our allies in Europe.
"If Russia pursues this path, many Russian mothers’ sons will not be coming home. The response in the international community would be the same and the pain that would beinflictedontherussianeconomy will be the same.”
Mr Johnson revealed he had held meetings with Nato allies and agreed a universal response.
He said the steps followed a virtual meeting on Monday night with key international leaders,includinguspresident Joebidenandfrenchpresident Emmanuel Macron.
“We agreed that we would respond in unison to any Russian attack on Ukraine, in unison by imposing co-ordinated andsevereeconomicsanctions heavier than anything we have done before against Russia,” he said.
“And we agreed on the necessity of finalising these measures as swiftly as possible in order to maximise their deterrent effect”.
Concluding his statement, Mr Johnson said he believed Russian aggression in Ukraine could be resolved through diplomacy.hesaidawarwould “deserve the condemnation of history”.
The Prime Minister said: “I believe that all of Russia’s fears could yet be allayed, and we could find a path to mutual security through patient and principled diplomacy, provided that President Putin avoids the trap of starting a terrible war, and a war that we believe would earn and would deserve the condemnation of history.”
Respondingtotheprimeminister’s statement on Ukraine,
Sir Keir Starmer criticised Mr Putin’s acts of aggression in recent years.
The Labour leader said: “His Russia has annexed Crimea, supported separatist conflict in Donbass and now massed over 100,000troopsonukraine’sborders. These are repeated and unjustifiable acts of aggression solabourstandsresoluteinour support of Ukraine’s sovereignty,independenceandterritorial integrity.”