UK to impose sanctions on Putin and Russian foreign minister as EU freezes president’s assets

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Britain will soon impose sanctions on Vladimir Putin and his inner circle, Boris Johnson promised in a phone call with other NATO leaders.

The assets of Russian President and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be frozen under the second package of actions agreed by EU countries last night, with Britain expected to do the same within hours.

Johnson continues to pressure world leaders to agree to remove Russia from Swift’s international payments system amid opposition to the move from some EU members.

Following the NATO conference call, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister urges leaders to take immediate action against Swift to inflict maximum pain on President Putin and his regime.

“The UK will impose sanctions on President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the near future, in addition to the sanctions package that the UK announced yesterday, he said.”

Several EU members backed Russia to remove Swift, including the Czech president, but Germany, Hungary and Italy have voiced opposition and France believes it should only be taken as a last resort because of the potential danger to ordinary Russians.

Former European Council President Donald Tusk said the countries had “embarrassed themselves” by blocking efforts to get Russia out of Swift.

The second package of EU sanctions includes pressing Russian banks to borrow money abroad, bans on Russian exports, including technology sales, and denial of visas to members of Putin’s inner circle, with their assets abroad frozen.

In an earlier phone call with leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force from Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Latvia, Johnson said “more sanctions are needed.”

The latest UK moves come on top of sanctions introduced on Thursday, including targeting the assets of all major Russian banks.

No10 insists that Russian deposits in British banks will be capped at £50,000 in a bid to curb their ability to use London to raise funds.

In a briefing with lawmakers, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the London law firm was delaying efforts to sanction Russian oligarchs, according to Labor MP Ben Bradshaw.

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Roderick Gilbert

"Entrepreneur. Internet fanatic. Certified zombie scholar. Friendly troublemaker. Bacon expert."

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