Russia faces “severe consequences” if Vladimir Putin chooses to make use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, the overseas secretary has mentioned.
James Cleverly additionally instructed the Russian president was “exacting vengeance” on civilians in Ukraine and low-income nations around the globe for his “military failures” by concentrating on energy stations and pulling out of a significant grain export deal.
He advised the Commons: “The house will have noted Putin’s irresponsible talk about nuclear weapons, and absurd claim that Ukraine plans to detonate a radiological dirty bomb on its own territory.
“No different nation is speaking about nuclear use. No nation is threatening Russia or President Putin.
“He should be clear that for the UK and our allies, any use at all of nuclear weapons would fundamentally change the nature of this conflict. There would be severe consequences for Russia.”
Putin accused of ‘loss of life by freezing’ plan – Ukraine newest
Mr Cleverly additionally urged Russia to not impede grain exports, saying: “At the weekend, Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea grain initiative, which has allowed the exportation of 100,000 tonnes of food every day, including to some of the least developed countries in the world,” he mentioned.
“Putin is exacting vengeance for his military failures on the civilians of Ukraine by cutting off their power and water supply, and on the poorest people in the world by threatening their food supplies.”
Mr Cleverly added: “Over 60% of the wheat exported beneath the Black Sea grain initiative has gone to low and middle-income nations, together with Ethiopia, Yemen and Afghanistan.
“It would be unconscionable for those lands to be made to suffer because of Putin’s setbacks on the battlefield in Ukraine.
“I urge Russia to cease impeding this important initiative that’s serving to feed the hungry the world over and comply with its extension.”
‘Increasingly determined statements’
The overseas secretary mentioned “increasingly desperate statements” from the Kremlin had been designed to distract from its faltering conflict effort.
He made the comment after Russia’s defence ministry claimed Royal Navy personnel blew up the Nord Stream gasoline pipelines final month – a narrative the Ministry of Defence mentioned was “invented”.
The Kremlin additionally claimed “British specialists” directed Ukrainian drone strikes on ships within the Black Sea Fleet within the Crimean metropolis of Sevastopol early on Saturday.
Without referring to the claims instantly, he mentioned: “Now the Kremlin is resorting to peddling false claims, churning out
invented stories that say more about the fractures within Russia’s government than they do about us.”
Source: information.sky.com”