Aggression like Vladimir Putin’s must “never again” be allowed to “grow unchecked”, Liz Truss will warn the West, as she prepares to call for a “paradigm shift” in the wake of Russia’s assault on Ukraine. The Foreign Secretary, in a speech in the US on Thursday, will make comparisons between the Russian president’s actions and the World Trade Centre terror attack in 2001, and will urge the international community to change its approach to dealing with antagonistic world leaders.
One of the three areas where she will say the UK wants to see stronger action is on forging stronger global alliances, including with countries not historically aligned to Britain, according to Foreign Office officials. Giving the Makins Lecture at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington, the Cabinet minister will say it is time to end “strategic dependence” on hostile and authoritarian states, including a departure from using Russian energy.
It comes after the UK and the US on Tuesday announced they will phase out imports of Russian oil by the end of the year as part of increased sanctions on Moscow. Ms Truss will also argue that allies must strengthen deterrence by spending more on defence and Nato, warning that the “era of complacency is over”.
