LONDON—British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is in “close contact” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as he hailed “the fierce bravery and patriotism” of Ukraine’s government and people.
In a recorded message, Johnson said “the scenes unfolding in the streets and fields of Ukraine are nothing short of a tragedy,” calling it bloodshed Europe has not seen in a generation or more.
He said “the people of the United Kingdom stand with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters in the face of this unjustifiable assault on your homeland.”
Johnson also urged Russians to oppose the invasion, which he called “a tragedy for Russia” as well as for Ukraine.
See: Russia vetoes U.N. Security Council resolution condemning its invasion of Ukraine
Also: ‘The war is likely to drag on’: Early observations on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Speaking in Russian, he said: “I do not believe this war is in your name.”
Britain has imposed asset freezes and other sanctions on scores of Russian companies and several oligarchs, and has joined the U.S., Canada and the European Union in slapping sanctions on President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.