Vladimir Putin could deploy “ever more barbaric” tactics to crush Ukrainian resistance, the Deputy Prime Minister warned today.
Dominic Raab said economic sanctions on Russia are “starting to bite”, but admitted Britain and allies need to “bed in and have the strategic stamina for the long haul”.
He added: “I’ve said that we can expect that, after the stuttering start to this campaign, that Putin would resort to ever more barbaric measures as he gets frustrated - and that is the next phase that we all need to be alert to, whether it is the sanctions or the steeling of the capacity and the will of the Ukrainian defence.”
Western officials have been surprised by the slow progress Kremlin troops have made since invading nine days ago.
Three Russian military commanders have died in fierce fighting, including a regimental commander and a divisional commander.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Moscow’s soldiers will likely bring in “heavier weaponry” as the brutal conflict intensifies.
He accused Russia of dropping deadly cluster bombs - and predicted more death and destruction in the coming days.
Mr Stoltenberg said in Brussels: “We have seen the use of cluster bombs and we have seen reports of use of other types of weapons which would be in violation of international law.”
Boris Johnson fears for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ’s safety, Downing Street said.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister was asked whether Mr Johnson was worried about attempts reportedly made on Mr Zelensky’s life.
He said: “Of course, everybody’s concerned for the safety and welfare of the President of Ukraine and the rest of the government, as well as the people of Ukraine who we’ve seen indiscriminately targeted over recent days.”
But Mr Johnson does not back calls for Putin to be assassinated, No10 said.
Asked if the PM agreed with US Senator Lindsey Graham who urged Russians to kill their leader, Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: “No, we stand with the Ukrainian people in demanding the immediate end to the Russian invasion.
“We’ve said before that Putin must be held to account in front of an international court for the horrific act he’s committed.”
Officials fear oligarchs will try to evade sanctions by ensuring they own less than a crucial 50% threshold of their own assets.
Currently a sanctioned person’s house in the UK is frozen - so it cannot be repaired, rented or sold, and the owner cannot visit.
But ministers are having to draw up new laws to confiscate those houses without compensation.
While the Government refuses to say if prominent people like Roman Abramovich will face sanctions, it is understood officials can take into account whether someone is moving to sell their UK assets when they decide how fast to sanction someone.
Quizzed about Mr Abramovich and his decision to sell Chelsea FC, Mr Raab said: “We don’t talk about individual cases before the sanctions are imposed.”
Labour chairwoman Anneliese Dodds urged the Government to go faster on sanctions.
She said: “For many, many years, Labour has been calling on the Conservatives to, for example, force transparency around property ownership, especially in London where we know that many of these Putin-linked oligarchs have been stashing their funds in property.”
