RUSSIA'S foreign secretary walked out on talks with Liz Truss, saying conversing with her was "like talking to a deaf person" and that what Russia does in its own territory is "not her business".
Sergei Lavrov made the comments immediately after talks between the two foreign secretaries to seek a diplomatic solution to troops massing on the Ukrainian border.
The Commons heard that a new law to “toughen and expand” sanctions against Russia would be in place by the end of Thursday.
“The reality is we cannot ignore the build-up of over 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border and the attempts to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Truss told the Russian leader.
“Fundamentally, a war in Ukraine would be disastrous for the Russian and Ukrainian people, and for European security. And, together, Nato has made it clear that any incursion into Ukraine would have massive consequences and carry severe costs.”
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“If these principles are respected, I believe that, in today’s talks, we can make progress to strengthen security for all,” she told Lavrov.
But Lavrov said UK diplomats came “unprepared” to the meeting and he told Truss Russia is strengthening ties with China.
He described the talks as like “speaking to a deaf person who listens but does not hear".
Asked if he had seen any concessions over Russia's concerns about Nato, Lavrov told a news conference he had only heard a demand to "remove Russian troops from Russian territory".
He said relations between the UK and Russia "leave much to be desired" and are at the "lowest point over the past few years".
It came after Truss said: "We need to see the troops and the equipment that is stationed on the Ukrainian border moved elsewhere."
Reuters reported that Truss insisted she was "not mute" in the discussion.
Truss had promised MPs that a new sanctions law would be in place by February 10, but Labour questioned why MPs had not been given a chance to scrutinise the proposals as the deadline rolled around.
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Foreign Office minister, James Cleverly, told the Commons: “As the Foreign Secretary set out on January 31, we are now laying legislation to broaden the designation criteria for the Russia sanctions regime.
“As minister for Europe, I have signed that legislation which we will lay before Parliament and intend to come into force this afternoon.
“We are toughening and expanding our sanctions regime in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. This legislation will significantly broaden the range of people, businesses and other entities that we can sanction in response to any further Russian aggression.”
This presser has not gone well. Sergey Lavrov has just briskly walked off, leaving @trussliz on her own at the podium. He said talking to her was ‘like talking to a deaf person’ & said what Russia does in its own territory is ‘not her business.’ She’s now got lunch with him… pic.twitter.com/7w3xORhUdw
— Emma Burrows (@EJ_Burrows) February 10, 2022
Shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, said: “The House rises today leaving no parliamentary time for the Government to put the legislation in place until after the recess.”
He added: “Promises made to this House should be kept, members deserve the opportunity to scrutinise and debate these measures and they need to be in place.
“With 130,000 troops threatening Ukraine, the Opposition stands ready to work with the Government in the national interest to get the appropriate measures in place. We can only do so if the Government keeps its promise to bring forth this sanctions legislation. Where is it?”
Cleverly repeated his claim that new sanction laws against Russia would be in force “this afternoon”.
“As I said in my initial statement, I have signed the legislation which we intend to come into force this afternoon,” he told MPs.
Labour MP, Chris Bryant, said the minister was “wrong to say today that it’s just going to happen this afternoon”, and it was “autocratic” to publish legislation without opportunity for scrutiny.
The MP for Rhondda told the Commons: “The Foreign Secretary told us that the legislation would be in place by February 10 and we were told that it would be an affirmative measure, which means that it doesn’t come into force unless the House has voted for it. So he’s wrong to say today that it’s just going to happen this afternoon.
“It’s completely autocratic for Government to publish legislation without any opportunity for anybody to scrutinise it, and frankly they have just been lazy. We’re Johnny-come-latelies when it comes to sanctions in this area.”
He asked when there would be a debate on the floor to ensure the whole House “sends the same message to Russia, because at the moment it just looks as if the Government – well, it’s not governing any more”.
Cleverly said he understood the “frustration” Bryant and others expressed, saying: “Our actions have been in all stages calibrated to deter Russian aggression and to act in concert and collaboration with our international partners.”
To dissuade aggressive action from Russia, he said “we are moving at a pace to ensure where possible that sanction regimes are in place ahead of this”.
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