UK MPs give standing ovation to Ukraine envoy, lambast Russia for committing 'war crime'

Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine's ambassador to Britain, was at UK Parliament on Wednesday to watch MPs question Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the Ukraine crisis. Prystaiko received a standing ovation from the House of Commons with many MPs also donning yellow and blue ribbons to express solidarity for Ukraine.

Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said applause was usually banned in the chamber, but “the House quite rightly wants to demonstrate our respect and support for your country and its people in the most difficult of times.”

'Russia guilty of war crime': Boris Johnson

During the Prime Minister's Questions (PMQ) session, Johnson, slamming Moscow, asserted that Russia is guilty of war crime in Ukraine. PM Johnson also noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “underestimated the extraordinary fortitude of the Ukrainian people and the unity and resolve of the free world in standing up to his barbarism.”

However, Johnson came under pressure to do more to stamp out Britain’s status as a haven for ill-gotten Russian money and to hit sanctions on oligarchs’ U.K. assets.

Johnson also added that the UK is determined to do everything it can to help Ukrainians flee the conflict. He had already said that his government will make it easy for Ukrainians currently residing in Britain to bring their relatives to the country.

"I spoke to Ukraine President this morning. I told him we will do everything to send weapons on time to Ukraine and we will do everything to help Ukrainians flee the conflict," he said.

Ukraine crisis: UK piles on sanctions on Russia, Belarus

The UK has piled on further sanctions against Russia and also imposed the first set of sanctions against Belarus for its involvement in the invasion of Ukraine. Ships linked to Russia have been banned from British ports in a fresh raft of sanctions against the Putin administration.

Russian ships have been banned from British ports in a fresh raft of UK sanctions against Moscow announced on Tuesday. The ban includes any vessels owned or operated by anyone connected to Russia, with UK authorities given new powers to detain Russian vessels.

"We are inflicting economic pain on Putin and those closest to him. We will not rest until Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity is restored," said UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

Image: @UKParliament/@Vadym Prystaiko-Twitter