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.
He said: “For too long Britain has been a safe haven for stolen money. Putin thinks we’re too corrupted to do the right thing and put an end to it.
“Now is the time to sanction every oligarch and crack open every shell company so we can prove Putin wrong.”
The PM promised to publish a list of people associated with Putin who could be liable for sanctions.
Labour will table amendments to the Economic Crime Bill on Monday to take tougher action against Russian oligarchs propping up Putin’s regime.
Their plans would require the new register of interests to come into force within weeks, rather than the Government’s proposed 18 months.
Another amendment would bring forward reform to Companies House and expose Kremlin-backed shell companies, as well as property and land.
Meanwhile US President Jo Biden sent Putin a powerful message over his invasion of Ukraine, saying the Russian leader “has no idea what’s coming”.
Describing Putin as a dictator, he said Moscow is “more isolated than ever” as he announced the closing of American air space to all Russian flights.
Biden accused Putin of underestimating the Ukrainian people and their allies including the UK after Putin’s troops met a “wall of strength he had never imagined”.
In his annual State of the Union address he also announced a special task force to target the crimes of Russian oligarchs.
In another show of across-the-board support among deeply divided politicians, his speech got an ovasion from both Democrats and Republicans.
The next round of peace talks are expected on the Polish-Belarusian border today.
It came as Alexander Temerko, a major Tory donor born in Ukraine under the Soviet Union, said Putin was “insane” but “not Doctor Evil”.
He told the BBC : “He is an old man who is not well mentally.
“Only two forces can help stop Russia – the Ukraine army and people, and the solidarity of all democratic worlds.”
