Boris Johnson promises immediate package of sanctions on Russia

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spoken following the emergency Cobra meeting - the UK government committee that handles emergencies, Report informs, citin the BBC.

The prime minister said Russian President Vladimir Putin had violated Ukrainian sovereignty by sending troops in and "completely torn up" international law.

"We will immediately institute a package of international sanctions," he says.

"This is just the first of a barrage of sanctions because we believe there will be more Russian irrational behaviour to come," he says.

"I'm afraid all the evidence is that President Putin is indeed bent on a full-scale invasion of the Ukraine, the overrunning, the subjugation of an independent, sovereign European country and I think, let's be absolutely clear, that will be absolutely catastrophic."

11:01

A meeting of the UK's emergency Cobra committee is underway, Report informs, citing the BBC.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been joined by senior security officials, including Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, to assess the impact of Russia's decision to recognize Luhansk and Donetsk 'people's republics' overnight.

It is expected that a range of sanctions will be discussed, before British MPs are asked to rubber stamp, what a spokesperson for the prime minister called, “a significant package of sanctions” later today.

Ministers are also expected to discuss the domestic implications of the proposed measures, including moves to ensure the resilience of the energy market.