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Good afternoon and welcome to The Essentialist, theĀ latest political news updates looking at the situation in Ukraine today.
Russia says its delegation is ready to continue peace talks with Ukraine tonight.
In the UK this morning, many members of the Parliament were dressed in blue and yellow, colors of Ukraine. As the Speaker of the House announced that the Ukrainian ambassador was in attendance for the Prime Ministerās Questions, he got a standing ovation that lasted nearly a minute from the Members of Parliament . What makes this fascinating news is that the House of Commons rules prohibit MPs from applauding.Ā
Boris Johnson assessed Putinās actions in Ukraine as a war crime.
āWhat we have seen already from Vladimir Putinās regime in the use of the munitions that they have already been dropping on innocent civilians,ā said Boris Johnson. āMr Speaker, already fully qualifies as a war crime, and I know the ICC prosecutor is already investigating. Iām sure the whole house will support that.ā
Sir Keir Starmer has placed pressure on Boris Johnson to impose more sanctions on the Russian oligarchs in the UK, especially Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea football club. āHe is a person of interest to the home office because of his links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices,ā said Starmer. āLast week, the Prime Minister said that Abramovich is facing sanctions. He later corrected the record to say that he isnāt, why on earth isnāt he?ā
Boris Johnson responded by saying that itās not appropriate for him to comment on individual cases. āBut what I can tell, and I stand, Mr. Speaker by what Iāve said in the house and what we put on the record, but be it no doubt that the actions that weāve already taken, this house has already taken, are having an effect in Moscow by exposing the ownership of properties of companies in the way that we are by sanctioning 275 individuals already, a further 100 last week that the impact is being felt.
Imprisoned Alexei Navalny is urging Russians to take it to the streets and join the protest against Putin.Ā
A school in Kharkiv had been hit by shelling, according to the Ukrainian parliament.
Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at the Beijing Paralympics that start this week, but not under the Russian flag.Ā
Nikita Mazepin, Russian F1 wonāt be allowed to race at the British Grand Prix.