Vladimir Putin will ‘never conquer’ Ukraine, Boris Johnson vows

Vladimir Putin will “never conquer” Ukraine, Boris Johnson vowed on Monday.

The Prime Minister issued the strong support for president Volodymyr Zelensky’s government as the world reeled in horror at the killing of civilians in towns outside of Kyiv.

Mr Johnson tweeted: “Putin will never break the spirit of Ukraine’s people or conquer their homeland.

“Ukraine will rise again and take her place among free and sovereign nations once more.”

Cabinet ministers called for tougher sanctions against the Putin regime, as well as more military, economic and diplomatic support for Ukraine. Its prosecutor-general, Iryna Venediktova, said the bodies of 410 civilians had been found in towns near the capital, which were recently retaken from Russian troops.

In the town of Bucha, 23 miles northwest of Kyiv’s city centre, the deputy mayor, Taras Shapravskyi, said 50 of some 300 bodies, found after Russian forces withdrew from the city late last week, were the victims of extra-judicial killings carried out by Russian troops.

Earlier, Cabinet minister Simon Hart stressed the need for a “common endeavour” from the West to boost the military, economic and diplomatic support for president Volodymyr Zelensky’s government, while ratcheting up sanctions on the Kremlin regime.

Speaking on Sky News, Welsh Secretary Mr Hart emphasised: “This is not just the UK. This about leading a world response.

“If the response is to be effective, it needs the West and many, many nations to come together in that common endeavour.”

He stressed that Britain was ready to do its best to provide different weapons to Ukraine, as it demands change, or finance to obtain them from another source.

On tightening sanctions on Putin’s regime, he added: “Now, is not the moment to sit back and say we have done enough.”

Mr Zelensky has accused Russian forces of genocide, calling its war the “elimination of the whole nation and the people”.

Mr Zelensky, speaking to CBS News through a translator on Sunday, said the people of Ukraine did not want to be subdued by Russia and were being destroyed and exterminated as a result.

Asked whether Russia’s actions constitute genocide, he said: “Indeed, this is genocide. The elimination of the whole nation and the people. We are the citizens of Ukraine. We have more than 100 nationalities.

“This is about the destruction and extermination of all these nationalities.”

Mr Zelensky also made a suprise guest appearance, via video link, at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night, appealing for musicians to “fill the silence with your music” and support Ukraine “in any way you can”.

Russia’s defence ministry said in a statement issued on Sunday that all photographs and videos published by the Ukrainian authorities alleging “crimes” by Russian troops in Bucha were a “provocation,” and no resident of Bucha suffered violence at the hands of Russian troops.

‘Putin will feel the consequences’

Pictures of the destruction and apparent violence towards civilians sparked widespread condemnation of Russia and leader Vladimir Putin.

On Sunday, Mr Johnson had condemned the “despicable attacks against innocent civilians” in the town of Irpin and Bucha.

“No denial or disinformation from the Kremlin can hide what we all know to be the truth – Putin is desperate, his invasion is failing, and Ukraine’s resolve has never been stronger,” he said.

“I will do everything in my power to starve Putin’s war machine. We are stepping up our sanctions and military support, as well as bolstering our humanitarian support package to help those in need on the ground.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the images as "a punch in the gut," while United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an independent investigation.

"Putin and his supporters will feel the consequences," said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, adding that Western allies would agree on further sanctions in the coming days.

Japan said it would consult with allies about additional sanctions.

"Japan takes deaths of innocent civilians in Ukraine extremely seriously. We are really shocked," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a regular news conference.

Germany's Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said the European Union must discuss banning the import of Russian gas - a departure from Berlin's prior resistance to the idea of an embargo on Russian energy imports.

Russia requested the UN Security Council convene on Monday to discuss what Moscow called a "provocation by Ukrainian radicals" in Bucha.

Russia has previously denied targeting civilians and has rejected allegations of war crimes in what it calls a "special military operation" aimed at demilitarising and "denazifying" Ukraine. Ukraine says it was invaded without provocation.

Human Rights Watch said it had documented "several cases of Russian military forces committing laws-of-war violations" in the Ukrainian regions of Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Kyiv.