Summary
Here’s a summary of the day’s main developments:
- A further 386 people – all members of the Russian Duma who supported the breakaway of the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk – were sanctioned by the UK government. The Foreign Office said the sanctions would “ban those listed from travelling to the UK, accessing assets held within the UK and doing business here”. But Downing Street declined to say whether any of those sanctioned have any assets in the UK.
- The prime minister acknowledged government plans to pass the burden of welcoming Ukrainian refugees on to individuals as they ask Britons to open up their homes. The proposal is part of a “sponsored” humanitarian route to belatedly begin admitting Ukrainians without family links to the UK.
- The Russian military will probably launch a renewed offensive, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. Officials concluded it was “highly unlikely” the Kremlin had successfully achieved its invasion plan so far.
That’s all from me for today. Thanks very much for reading and commenting. My colleague Léonie Chao-Fong is continuing to cover all of the developments in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Updated
Scotland’s main political parties, aside from the Scottish Conservatives, have together written to the UK government urging them to waive visa requirements for Ukrainian nationals and put in place a funded resettlement programme for refugees.
In a letter co-signed by the leaders of Scottish Labour, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Greens, the Scottish National party leader and the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, raised concerns that a lack of clarity from the UK government around settlement programmes and complex visa processes is delaying Scotland from welcoming refugees from Ukraine. Sturgeon wrote:
It is neither reasonable nor morally acceptable to expect people fleeing war to go through complex bureaucratic processes in order to reach safety within the UK. We must provide sanctuary first and treat people with respect and humanity.
Scotland stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and deeply wishes to provide them with practical support, aid and refuge. We are ready to provide that to people in need right now.
Earlier on Friday, the Scottish government announced Europe minister Neil Gray is to be given responsibility for its approach to supporting Ukrainian refugees.
Updated
