Ukraine news - live: Putin’s Russia like Nazi Germany, says Johnson
Boris Johnson argued at the G7 that Western allies must continue to back Ukraine
Vladimir Putin was mocked by leaders at the start of the G7 summit on Sunday (PA)
Boris Johnson has said the “price of freedom is worth paying” as he compared Russia with Nazi Germany.
The prime minister argued that Western allies must continue to back Ukraine because standing up against Vladimir Putin’s aggression would ultimately make the world a safer and more prosperous place.
Speaking at the G7 summit in Germany, Mr Johnson said that if Mr Putin is not resisted, it could give the green light to countries such as China to pursue their own goals of territorial expansion, he suggested.
Comparing the situation to the defeat of Nazi Germany, Mr Johnson declined to put a limit on UK support to Ukraine.
Meanehile, Russia has reportedly defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time in a century, further alienating the country from the global financial system.
The country was due to make a $100 million payment to international creditors on Sunday, but was not able to due to wide-ranging sanctions imposed on it due to the war in Ukraine.
In other developments, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has urged G7 leaders to do more to support his nation’s fight against Russia.
G7 condemn ‘sham trials’ that saw death sentences handed to two Britons
World leaders have condemned the “sham” trials which saw death sentences handed to two Britons for fighting Russian forces in Ukraine.
Aiden Aslin, 28, originally from Newark in Nottinghamshire, and Shaun Pinner, 48, from Bedfordshire, have been treated as foreign “mercenaries” by pro-Russian authorities in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), who handed down the sentences to the men who were fighting for the Ukrainian army.
Leaders at the G7 summit in Germany condemned the trials as they urged Russia to comply with its obligations under international law.
Boris Johnson and his fellow G7 leaders made reference to death sentences handed to members of the Ukrainian armed forces, without explicitly referring to the cases of the two Britons.
The G7 statement on Ukraine said: “Russia and its proxies must respect international humanitarian law, including the rights and protections afforded to prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions.
“We condemn the sham ‘trials’ resulting in application of the death sentence to members of the Ukrainian armed forces.”
The G7 statement follows condemnation by the United Nations human rights watchdog, which described the sentences as a “war crime”.
‘Time running out’ to save Briton sentenced to death by Donetsk separatists
Family of 28-year-old say his captors have told him ‘nobody from UK has made contact and that he will be executed’
Boris Johnson urges allies to back Ukraine and compares Russia to Nazi Germany
Boris Johnson has said the “price of freedom is worth paying” as he compared Russia with Nazi Germany.
The prime minister argued that Western allies must continue to back Ukraine because standing up against Vladimir Putin’s aggression would ultimately make the world a safer and more prosperous place.
Speaking at the G7 summit in Germany, Mr Johnson said that if Mr Putin is not resisted, it could give the green light to countries such as China to pursue their own goals of territorial expansion, he suggested.
Comparing the situation to the defeat of Nazi Germany, Mr Johnson declined to put a limit on UK support to Ukraine.
“The point I would make to people is, I think that sometimes the price of freedom is worth paying.
“And just remember, it took the democracies, in the middle of the last century, a long time to recognise that they had to resist tyranny and aggression.
“It took them a long time, it was very expensive.
“But what it bought in the end, with the defeat of the of the dictators, particularly of Nazi Germany, it bought decades and decades of stability, a world order that relied on a rules-based international system.
“And that is worth protecting, that is worth defending, that delivers long-term prosperity.”
Russia sanctions 43 Canadian citizens
Russia sanctioned 43 Canadian citizens on Monday, barring them from entering the country in a tit-for-tat response to Western sanctions on Moscow.
The list, published by the foreign ministry, included the chairperson of Canada’s governing Liberal Party, Suzanne Cowan, and the former governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, Mark Carney.
In April, Moscow sanctioned 61 Canadian officials and journalists. It has barred dozens of other Western politicians, journalists and business figures from entering Russia.
Reuters
Russia defaults on overseas debt for first time in years
Russia has defaulted on its foreign debts payment for the first time in years as its economy bleeds from the sanctions imposed by western nations in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow faced a Sunday deadline to pay off the interest worth about $100 million, originally due on 27 May, and meet a 30-day grace period. However the term expired without payment.
It is Russia’s latest economic collapse on the debt-front following a default on its domestic debts in 1998 and and after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution where Moscow failed to pay off its international debts.
Arpan Rai reports.
Zelensky tells G7 he wants the war in Ukraine finished by the end of the year
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told leaders of the G7 that he wanted Russia’s war in Ukraine ended by the end of the year before the winter sets in, two European Union diplomats said.
Zelensky addressed the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States by video link on Monday, the second day of the three-day G7 summit in southern Germany.
Zelensky calls on G7 for more sanctions on Russia and anti-aircraft defence systems
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday asked for anti-aircraft defence systems, more sanctions on Russia and security guarantees as he addressed leaders of the G7, a European official said.
Addressing the summit in the Bavarian Alps via video link, Zelensky also asked for help to export grain from Ukraine and for reconstruction aid, the European official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
G7 leaders mock Putin’s bare-chested horse-riding pictures
Boris Johnson and Joe Biden clash over plan to cut green fuels for food production
Boris Johnson and US president Joe Biden are at odds over a plane to cut the production of green fuels in a bid to free up land for food production.
The prime minister wants G7 leaders to temporarily cut the amount of grain produced for biofuels, claiming the process is pushing up the cost of food.
Britain is backed by Germany – also pushing for a temporary waiver on their biofuel commitments – but the US and Canada are against the move.
Adam Forrest reports.
Boris Johnson and Biden clash over plan to cut green fuels for food production
World’s poorest ‘inching closer to starvation’ says PM, as he pushes for waiver on climate commitments
US set to pledge advanced missile system to Ukraine
The US preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv at the G7.
The pledge comes as the G7 leaders meet with talks by video link also scheduled with president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Biden is set to announce that the US is providing an advanced surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine, as well as additional artillery support, AP has reported, citing US official sources.
The US is understood to be purchasing Nasams, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defence.
Nasams is the same system used by the US to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and US Capitol in Washington.
Zelensky to ask G7 leaders for more weapons
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky will urge leaders of some of the world’s richest countries to do more to support his nation’s fight against Russia.
Mr Zelensky will address Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and other G7 leaders by video link from Kyiv as his country continues to come under attack from Vladimir Putin’’ missiles.
In his nightly address on Sunday, he urged the allies to be “partners, not observers” and give his country the ability to defend itself – warning that any delay would be an invitation to Russia to strike again.Mr Zelensky said he would demand extra defence systems.
“We need a powerful air defence – modern, fully effective – which can ensure complete protection against these missiles,” he said.
He added: “Delays in the transfer of weapons to our state, any restrictions are actually an invitation for Russia to strike again and again.
“The occupiers – these terrorists – must be beaten with all our might so that they do not think they can put pressure and outplay someone.”
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