A NEW wave of Russian sanctions announced by the Government have been welcomed by Meriden and Solihull East MP, Saqib Bhatti.
Speaking in the House of Commons during a debate marking the third anniversary of the War in Ukraine Mr Bhatti asked the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP, what the government is doing to urge America to follow suit and impose further sanctions on Russia and help the Ukrainians.
This comes as geopolitical developments like the meeting between US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, in Saudia Arabia and the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, travels to Washington to meet with President Trump are set to take place.
Ukraine will be top of their agenda, with the Prime Minister intent on helping Ukraine secure a lasting, reliable, and just peace.
Ahead of their meeting, the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, announced a wave of new sanctions on over 100 targets which will deny Russia access to world-leading expertise needed to maintain its war.
From the very start of the conflict, sanctions have helped to frustrate Putin’s war effort. There is estimated to be around $400 billion in frozen assets which Mr Bhatti believes should be harnessed to help Ukraine push Putin back.
In the House Mr Bhatti said: “When Putin invaded, he thought it would be a matter of weeks. Three years on, Ukraine is still standing. I am proud of how we as a House and as a nation has stood up for Ukraine. That includes my constituents, for which I commend them.
“My Rt Hon Friend, the Shadow Foreign Secretary [Dame Priti Patel] asked about sanctions, but I did not hear the answer from the Foreign Secretary, so he perhaps can shed some light. When the Prime Minister meets President Trump, will he raise the issue of new sanctions, which I would welcome? Will he urge the US to follow suit?”
Responding, Mr Lammy said: “We continue to discuss sanctions with all our partners. I discussed that with G7 partners, including Secretary of State Rubio. We have imposed sanctions on more than 2,100 individuals and entities—the most wide-ranging sanctions imposed on any major economy.
“We believe that maximum pressure is required at this time. The United States has indicated that it would be willing to impose further sanctions on Russia. That issue remains under discussion.”
Three years ago, Russia launched their barbaric, brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost, civilians have been mercilessly killed, and a country has been left in a ruinous state because of Putin’s illegal war.
In 2023 Mr Bhatti invited nearly 60 Ukrainian refugees who have settles in the Merdien constituency to London after he met them at St Philip’s Church in Dorridge in the summer of 2022.
