Putin's invasion shows NATO members must spend more on defence, says foreign secretary

Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine shows that NATO members must spend more on defence and improve their cooperation, the foreign secretary has said.

Addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee, Liz Truss admitted Britain and its allies “took their eye off the ball” over Russia in the aftermath of the Cold War and called on NATO members to “be serious about defence spending”.

Ms Truss added that Mr Putin’s invasion had “shattered the security architecture of Europe” – and stressed that countries “need to rethink their economic dependence” on Russian oil, gas, and coal.

Live updates as Russia to ‘open humanitarian corridors’ in several cities

Pressed on why efforts to deter the Russian president had failed, the foreign secretary told MPs on the committee: “I think post-Cold War, the West took its eye off the ball.

“Defence budgets were cut, there was too much entering into trade and economic relationships without understanding the underlying strategic dependency that would lead to.

“That’s particularly true of hydrocarbons, which are of course a major part of the Russian economy, but it’s also true of technology exports.”

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‘We need to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank’

Ms Truss acknowledged that the West had “enabled the development of Russian high-tech warfare” by providing the funding through oil and gas sales.

On what needed to be done, she continued: “What we have to do now is we have to strengthen NATO, we particularly have to strengthen the eastern flank.

“We have already deployed more troops into Estonia, but there is more to do. We have to be serious about defence spending, right across NATO.”

She added that nations must work with countries such as India to reduce their dependence on Russian resources.

Key developments:
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns of ‘day of judgement’ for Russia
• PM to meet foreign leaders to build united front against Putin
• Oil costs soar beyond 2008 high as Russian crude boycott considered
• Foreign Office minister defends UK’s support for refugees
• Ex-Ukrainian president asks for military aircraft to help fight Russians

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Truss directs visa scheme questions to Patel

Only “around 50” visas have been issued under the Ukraine Family Scheme, which allows Ukrainian refugees who have family settled in the UK to apply to come to Britain for three years, according to government figures.

Asked by Labour MP Chris Bryant if she is “ashamed” by those numbers, which were published on Sunday, Ms Truss said the process is being run by the Home Office.

“It is really a matter for the home secretary exactly how the process works,” she said.

Speaking in the Commons, Priti Patel confirmed that 14,000 Ukrainians have applied for the scheme so far.

The home secretary said the refugee situation is “rapidly moving” and that new figures will come this evening.

She claimed the figures released on Sunday were “absolutely inaccurate”.

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Economic Crime Bill will allow ‘hundreds’ to be sanctioned

Ms Truss’ comments come as MPs prepare to debate the Economic Crime Bill this afternoon.

The legislation, which has the intention of targeting money laundering by foreign oligarchs, will mean foreign property owners will have to declare their identities rather than using companies.

Ms Truss said amendments to the Economic Crime Bill would “give us the chance to bring even more crippling sanctions against Putin and his regime”.

“If parliament passes the legislation by Monday 14 March, we will be able to sanction the hundreds of individuals by next Tuesday, 15 March,” she told the committee.

The foreign secretary also confirmed that Britain’s ambassador to Ukraine has left the country because of the “serious security situation” and that all UK diplomatic missions in the country have now closed.

PM unveils more support for Ukraine

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has announced a further £175m of UK support for Ukraine.

The prime minister made the pledge at a Downing Street press conference with Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau and Dutch premier Mark Rutte, saying it took the UK’s total commitment to nearly £400m.

Mr Johnson said the three countries “stand shoulder to shoulder against Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine”, and reiterated that the West must ensure Mr Putin’s “catastrophic invasion” fails.

He also said the UK government recognises it needs to do “even more” to help Ukrainian refugees, amid criticism that the response has fallen short of those of other European countries.

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