Boris Johnson Quickly Wraps Up Covid Press Conference After Putin Moves To Recognise Breakaway Ukraine Regions

Boris Johnson wrapped up his latest Coronavirus press conference to go and speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Putin said he recognised Eastern Ukraine's Rebel regions as new countries..

Cutting things short, Johnson explained: "I'm just going to go and talk to President Zelensky of Ukraine and offer him the support of the United Kingdom."

ITV

This came after Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as new countries.

The independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine is said to be something that could severely ratchet up tensions with the West.

The decision from Putin increases fears that Moscow could invade Ukraine at any moment and use skirmishes as a pretext for an attack.

This is something the UK Prime Minister has touched on and previously said that the decision to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine was an 'ill omen' and a flagrant breach of international law.

He also said it was a 'dark sign' that things are moving in the wrong direction.

Rossiya-24

At a Downing Street press conference he said: “This is plainly in breach of international law, it’s a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine.

“It is a repudiation of the Minsk process and the Minsk Agreements. I think it’s a very ill omen and a very dark sign."

He added that it was 'yet another indication that things are moving in the wrong direction in Ukraine'.

The move seems to have dashed hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough which had been raised with the possibility of talks between Mr Putin and US President Joe Biden.

The Prime Minister had previously said sanctions would be triggered if Russia invaded Ukraine.

But he said: “Plainly what has happened is extremely bad news and we will be urgently talking to our friends and allies around the world, all of whom are jointly signed up with us in this package of sanctions.”

ITV

Mr Johnson said it was 'becoming clear that we are going to need to start applying as much pressure as we possibly can'.

Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, said the recognition of 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'.

She said: "We will co-ordinate our response with allies. We will not allow Russia’s violation of its international commitments to go unpunished."