Putin's invasion is 'not proceeding to plan' - Truss addresses Commons on Ukraine crisis

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said that the situation is “fluid” but as of Monday President Vladimir Putin has not taken any major cities.

Updating the House on the United Kingdom’s support for Ukraine in the face of Mr Putin’s “pre-meditated, pre-planned and barbaric invasion”, Ms Truss said: “Ukraine has suffered horrific attacks, missiles and air strikes who’ve torn through apartment blocks.

“Tanks have rolled into once peaceful cities, innocent people, including children who’ve lost their lives. The situation is fluid.

“But as of today Putin has not taken any major cities. Their advance has been slowed by Ukraine’s fierce resistance.”

Ms Truss has said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion is “not proceeding to plan”.

She said: “He expected to take cities quickly. He expected Ukraine to retreat and he expected the West to be divided.

“Instead, his forces were met by the heroic heroism of President Zelensky and the resolute determination of the Ukrainian people.

“He has been met by a united West, together with our friends around the world, and we have taken decisive action.

“Today we have acted with the US, the EU, Japan and Canada to cut Russia’s central bank off from our markets. The rouble has fallen by over 40% as a result, as much as 250 billion dollars have been wiped off the Russian stock market and today their stock market is closed.”

Telling the Commons she is “determined to go much, much further” with actions against Russia, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she would sanction the country’s largest bank with a new law.

Ms Truss told MPs: “Today I can inform the House I will be laying two new pieces of sanctions legalisation.

“The first introduces a set of new powers against Russia’s financial sector. It includes powers to prevent Russian banks from clearing payments in sterling.

“With over 50% of Russian trade denominated in dollars or sterling, our co-ordinated action with the United States will damage Russia’s ability to trade with the world.

“As soon as this legislation comes into force, we will apply it to Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank.”

The UK and Western allies will have to undergo “some economic hardship as a result of our sanctions”, Liz Truss has said.

The Foreign Secretary told the Commons: “The days ahead are likely to prove tougher still. The UK and our allies will have to undergo some economic hardship as a result of our sanctions.

“But our hardships are nothing compared to those endured by the people of Ukraine.

“Casualty numbers are rising and over 300,000 people have already been displaced. This is a struggle for Ukraine’s freedom and self-determination, but it is also a struggle for freedom and democracy everywhere. And for a survival of a Europe whole and free.”