The British government has said it will push for tougher international sanctions against Russia and further increase supplies of weapons to Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will use a trip to Poland this week to call for more sanctions against Russia ahead of talks with NATO and G-7 allies later in the week, the Foreign Office said in a statement on Monday.
Tougher action against Russia is needed to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position in peace talks, said the statement.
Truss said: “[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is yet to show he is serious about diplomacy. A tough approach from the UK and our allies is vital to strengthen Ukraine’s hand in negotiations.
“Britain has helped lead the way with sanctions to cripple the Putin war machine. We will do more to ramp up the pressure on Russia and we will keep pushing others to do more.”
Truss will also announce a £10 million ($13 million) civil society fund to support organisations working with survivors of sexual violence in Ukraine, following reports of alleged incidents of rape by Russian forces in the country.
Also on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed outrage at the reported discovery of mass graves outside Kyiv following last week’s withdrawal of Russian troops.
Calling the discovery “sickening,” Johnson said: “The UK will not stand by whilst this indiscriminate and unforgivable slaughter takes place. We are working to ensure those responsible are held to account. We will not rest until justice is done.”
Earlier, he used a video posted on social media to show his support for Ukraine’s war effort.
He said: “All the tanks and guns in Vladimir Putin’s arsenal will never break the spirit of Ukraine’s people or conquer their homeland.
“Britain will never waver from supporting our friends and I have not the slightest doubt that when this time of agony is over, Ukraine will rise again and take her place once more among free and sovereign nations.”
The prime minister’s official spokesman added, “We will continue to speak with our allies about how we can move further and as much as possible in lockstep to continue to ratchet up the pressure.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that Moscow sees the Ukrainian claim of a massacre of civilians outside Kyiv as “a provocation that posed a direct threat to global peace and security.”
