Boris Johnson has accused Vladimir Putin of using “barbaric and indiscriminate tactics against innocent civilians” in Ukraine.
In his strongest condemnation yet of the Russian president the UK Prime Minister said Russia was prepared to “bomb tower blocks, to send missiles into tower blocks, to kill children, as we are seeing in increasing numbers”.
Speaking in Warsaw, Johnson said there was an “unfolding disaster in our European continent” and that Putin had “fatally underestimated” the resistance of the Ukrainians and the resolve of the West.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the “leadership and courage” of Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president.
Johnson marvelled at Zelenskiy's "coolness under fire" . He said: “I think he has inspired and mobilised not only his own people, he is inspiring and mobilising the world in outrage at what is happening in Ukraine.”
But Johnson warned that the grim war would only get worse. Johnson said: "This invasion of a free and sovereign country is not only a tragedy it is a colossal mistake. The Ukranian people have shown already that their spirit will not be broken and they will not be subdued."
“We must accept the grim reality that Putin will continue to tighten the vice and, if you go by the size and firepower of Vladimir Putin’s war machine, the odds have always been heavily against Ukrainian armed forces.”
There was a hint from the Prime Minister of new resettlement scheme working with Poland to help refugees, rather than them claiming asylum in Britain.
The UK Government has come under pressure from Tory and opposition MPs to do more to take in Ukrainian refugees.
Johnson said in addition to relatives being able to join Ukranians in the UK there would be a scheme under which UK companies and citizens can sponsor individual refugees to come to the UK.
Johnson told his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki: “We stand ready, clearly, to take Ukrainian refugees in our own country, working with you, in considerable numbers, as we always have done and always will.”
The Prime Minister said the Polish government and people were doing an “amazing job, an inspirational job” in addressing the humanitarian crisis.
He said: “We in the UK stand ready to help you, we have humanitarian supplies already coming in – I think two planes of medical supplies have already landed, there is more to come.”
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