Boris Johnson says he fears Russia might resort to chemical weapons in Ukraine

Boris Johnson has mentioned he fears Vladimir Putin’s “cynical, barbaric” regime might resort to deploying chemical weapons in Ukraine.

As western allies specific considerations Russia may use the banned weapon, the prime minister pressured Moscow had a “faux story able to go” – with claims of its opponents storing chemical weapons.

After the UK authorities accused the Kremlin of conflict crimes following the bombing of a maternity ward in Ukraine’s port metropolis of Mariupol, Mr Johnson mentioned it confirmed the Russian president was ready to reject “all norms of civilised behaviour”.

He additionally revealed Dominic Raab, the deputy prime minister, would quickly journey to The Hague to see “what proof” of conflict crimes Britain may assist provide to the Worldwide Felony Courtroom (ICC), which not too long ago launched an investigation into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Chatting with Sky Information presenter Beth Rigby, Mr Johnson mentioned: “The stuff which you’re listening to about chemical weapons is straight out of the Russian playbook.

“They begin saying that there are chemical weapons which are being saved by their opponents or by the Individuals in order that once they themselves deploy chemical weapons, as I worry they could, they’ve a faux story able to go.”

In a reference to the Salisbury nerve agent assault, the prime minister added: “You will have seen it in Syria, you noticed it even within the UK.

“I simply notice that’s what they’re already doing. It’s a cynical, barbaric authorities, I’m afraid.”

Mr Johnson seemed to be referring to feedback from the Russian overseas ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

Earlier this week, she accused Ukraine, with out proof, of working chemical and organic weapons labs in its territory with the help of the US – a declare dismissed by the White Home as “preposterous”.

His remarks additionally come after western officers first sounded the alarm on Wednesday over the potential use of chemical weapons, as they highlighted that the Russian navy have been “burning via a number of high-end equipment” amid a fierce Ukrainian resistance to the Kremlin’s invasion.

And earlier, James Heappey, an armed forces ministers, hinted the usage of chemical weapons might cross a “crimson line” which may set off a world response.

He mentioned: “I don’t suppose it’s useful to get into any agency dedication proper now about the place that crimson line sits, however I feel President Putin must be very clear that when different international locations have used chemical weapons it has brought about a world response.

“I feel he ought to mirror very urgently on what has occurred to different international locations the place they’ve used them.”

Mr Johnson additionally revealed to Sky Information he had had some “very frank” and “deeply upsetting” conversations with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, together with over points reminiscent of a no-fly zone, which has been dominated out by Western leaders over fears of a direct escalation with Russia.

“It’s horrible. I gotta say it’s completely horrible. And I’ve acquired an enormous admiration for Volodymir Zelensky,” the prime minister replied, when requested whether or not it performed on his conscience.

“I feel any chief in his place can be saying precisely the identical factor. They’d be saying, ‘why can’t you present that air cowl? Why can’t you, because the west, merely assist to clear our skies of Russian planes and cease us being bombarded from the air, cease this, this evil occurring in Europe?’”

He added:“The issue is that there’s a line past which, fairly frankly, the the UK and Nato can be deemed to be in battle, direct battle, with Russia”.

Requested whether or not the usage of chemical weapons was a “crimson line” which will consequence within the authorities altering its strategy on a no-fly zone, the prime minister replied: “It’s agonising. It’s completely agonising.

“And I’ve had this dialog no less than a few instances now with with Volodymir, however I feel the problem is that it’s going to require me to order RAF jets, UK pilots into the air with a mission to shoot down Russian quick jets.”

Pressed once more, he went on: “I feel we’ve acquired to be sensible and we’re going to do every little thing we are able to to help the Ukrainian folks, to help the superb heroic Ukrainian resistance.

“And we’re doing an increasing number of with help from – with air defences, with anti-tank weaponry and all that form of factor… I don’t wish to go into the small print, however I feel I feel your viewers know roughly what we’re doing, it has been ramped up. However that’s successfully a defensive measure and… there’s a line that could be very tough to cross.”

Mr Johnson additionally mentioned he couldn’t “see a method out” of the Ukrainian battle, which the overseas secretary Liz Truss has prompt might go on for a number of years, with out Russian troops withdrawing and the Kremlin realising its “catastrophic mistake”.