Boris Johnson latest news: War could last years but may be beginning of end for Russian president, Liz truss says

This just in from our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn:

Liz Truss has said the Russian invasion of Ukraine could mark the “beginning of the end” for Vladimir Putin, but warned the conflict could last a “number of years”.

As the Kremlin’s military offensive entered its fourth day, the foreign secretary also stressed: “We do need to be prepared for Russia to use even worse weapons”

With opposition parties calling for stronger sanctions, Ms Truss told Sky News the UK government had drawn up a “hit list of oligarchs” whose property and private jets would be targeted.

Push backs from Ukrainian defences in Kyiv are holding as clashes with Russian forces start to abate in the capital, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

Tweeting an intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine, the MoD said: “Ukrainian forces have engaged the remnants of Russian irregular forces within the city of Kyiv for the second night in a row, fighting has been at a lower intensity than the previous evening.

“After encountering strong resistance in Chernihiv, Russian forces are bypassing the area in order to prioritise the encirclement and isolation of Kyiv.

“Intensive exchanges of rocket artillery overnight have been followed by heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv.

“Russian forces are continuing to advance into Ukraine from multiple axis but are continuing to be met with stiff resistance from the Ukrainian armed forces.”

Foreign secretary Liz Truss has said Ukrainian forces are continuing to resit Russian forces at a level “unexpected” by Russians.

Speaking on Sky News this morning, she said:“I fear this will be a long-haul.. this could be a number of years”

“We know Russia has strong forces but the Ukrainians are brave…they are determined to protect and fight”

“This could be the beginning of the end for Putin,” she said.

The chair of the foreign affairs select committee has suggested the government look to a famous US prosecution for an example of how to pursue Vladimir Putin and help Russians.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Tom Tugendhat said: “We can help Russians with the rule of law,” the MP who chairs the foreign affairs select committee wrote in The Sunday Telegraph.

“While Putin’s still killing rivals in Moscow and innocents in Kyiv, we need to bring actions against him and his gang. Trying him in one for tax evasion and another for fraud, we’d be drawing on the lessons of the Chicago court that sentenced Al Capone. Assets stolen decades ago could be returned when Russians had a government, not a gang. Then, perhaps, a second case could follow, modelled on a case 15 years later in Nuremberg.”

Mr Tugendhat said in 1946 a Soviet judge, from Rostov on Ukraine’s border, found those who started the Second World War guilty of participating in a criminal conspiracy to wage a war of aggression.

“That same charge is now Article 353 of the Russian Criminal Code and could be brought against Putin and his enablers, bringing a fitting end to the second man in 80 years to order an unprovoked attack on Ukraine and fire rockets at civilians in Kyiv,” the MP added.

With additional reporting from PA

Ireland’s foreign and defence minister has announced that the country will move to shut off Irish airspace to Russian planes.

Tweeting this morning, Simon Coveney said: “Shocking Russian attacks on Ukraine overnight. Ireland will move to shut off Irish airspace to all Russian aircraft.

“We encourage other EU partners to do the same. We also support new wide-ranging sanctions to be agreed today at EU FAC & new assistance package for Ukraine.”

Ireland will close off its airspace to all Russian aircraft, the Foreign Affairs minister has said.

The first minister of wales Mark Drakeford appears to have condemned the Home Office in the wake of its announcement that Ukrainians in Britain will be able to extend or switch their visas.

Mark Drakeford told BBC Breakfast: “There’s a slightly grudging spirit in the Home Office’s announcement, on simply talking about ‘concessions’ being made to people who are already here.

“As the position clarifies, we will need to go beyond that.

“It isn’t just the actions themselves, it’s the spirit in which they’re made that will be important to establish our reputation as a country which – in the face of these enormously disturbing events – is prepared to play our part in responding to those people who are at the very sharpest end of it all.”

The Independent has launched a Refugees Welcome campaign, calling on the British government to set up an urgent and properly funded resettlement programme for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion – and to take the lead in offering a wider package of access and support.

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Germany has announced it will provide anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, a major shift in policy for Berlin.

The German economy and climate ministry said in a Saturday evening statement that Germany is allowing the Netherlands to ship 400 German-made anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It threatens our entire post-war order,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “In this situation, it is our duty to do our best to help Ukraine defend itself against Vladimir Putin’s invading army.”

Germany had long stuck to a policy of not exporting deadly weapons to conflict zones, including Ukraine. As recently as Friday, government officials said they would abide by that policy.

It is thought Germany will supply 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 stinger missiles.

Pressure is growing on the Irish Government to expel the Russian ambassador, as protests continued in Dublin against the invasion of Ukraine.

On Saturday afternoon, dozens of protesters once again gathered outside the Russian Embassy in south Dublin to call on Russia to end the attacks on Ukraine.

Labour TD Ivana Bacik and Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher were among the crowd.

It comes amid growing calls for the Russian Ambassador to be expelled from Ireland.

A furious war of words has erupted between the government and Labour over Britain’s treatment of people fleeing the fighting in Ukraine.

Labour said the government’s refusal to relax visa restrictions for those seeking sanctuary in the UK was “immoral” at a time when the country was under fire.

But Home Secretary Priti Patel hit back, accusing the opposition of “appalling misinformation” and saying the claims were “simply untrue”.

Speaking during a visit to Birmingham, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged ministers to adopt a “humanitarian approach” to people “fleeing for their lives”.