Inside Politics: Sajid Javid says Russia’s ‘invasion of Ukraine has begun’

Health secretary issues warning as Russian troops cross border in what Kremlin claims is a ‘peacekeeping’ mission, after Putin recognises two regions in east as independent, writes Matt Mathers

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said racism should ‘never ever be tolerated’, whether in the police or elsewhere (Victoria Jones/PA) (PA Wire)

Russia’s “invasion of Ukraine has begun,” health secretary Sajid Javid said this morning as an emergency Cobra meeting was held to formalise the UK’s response to Vladimir Putin sending troops over the border, after recognising two regions in the east of the country as independent. The prime minister is expected to deliver a statement to parliament shortly after the meeting has concluded. Elsewhere, Johnson confirmed yesterday that all remaining Covid restrictions will be axed, sparking a serious backlash from medics, who described the move as premature.

Inside the bubble

Our chief politics commentator John Rentoul on what to look out for:

The Commons sits from 11.30am starting with questions for Kwasi Kwarteng and his business department ministers. Zac Goldsmith, the foreign office minister, will give evidence to a select committee on aid and climate change, at 3.15pm. Michael Gove, the levelling-up secretary, will talk to another committee about who will pay to make cladding safe at 4pm. George Eustice, the environment secretary, will speak at the annual National Farmers Union conference, where pig farmers in particular are likely to express their unhappiness.

Coming up:

– Shadow defence secretary John Healey on Sky News Breakfast at 8.05am

– Health secretary Sajid Javid on ITV GMB at 8.30am

Daily Briefing

UKRAINE ON THE BRINK: Hopes of averting war in Ukraine were dealt another serious blow last night as Vladimir Putin recognised two Russian rebel breakaway regions in the east of the country as independent, in a move security analysts fear could be used as a further pretext for war. In a fiery hour-long televised address to the nation, the Russian president confirmed troops are now being sent to Donetsk and Luhansk on “peacekeeping functions”. Reports on the ground said tanks had rolled into both regions just hours after the announcement.

WEST CONDEMNS PUTIN: The move spark sparked international condemnation and immediate US sanctions, with president Joe Biden signing an executive order to halt US business activity in the breakaway regions and ban imports of all goods from those areas controlled by Russian-backed separatists. Britain, France and Germany also agreed to respond with sanctions, with Britain and the US saying they would announce further measures on Tuesday. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, urged the west to show it is serious in imposing tough penalties on Moscow. “World capitals don’t sleep now, regardless of their time zones,” he said in a tweet. “The scope & timeline of sanctions are being finalized. Ukraine insists: further Russian actions rely on how the world reacts. Russia must be in no doubt that the world talks the talk and walks the walk on sanctions.”

UK RESPONSE: Boris Johnson lead an emergency Cobra meeting with cabinet ministers first thing this morning to agree on a coordinated response to the latest developments, with a package of sanctions expected to follow after what Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, described as the Kremlin’s “breach of international law and attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”. The prime minister was earlier briefed on the latest intelligence from the region and the discussions followed a meeting of the UN Security Council last night, at which delegates dismissed Moscow’s “peackeeping” claims as “nonsense”.

Dame Barbara Woodward, the UK’s ambassador, said Russia has “brought us to the brink”, warning that the country’s actions “will have severe and far-reaching consequences”. Amid a cost of living squeeze and soaring energy bills, oil prices have risen to their highest level for seven years as markets are spooked by fears that a conflict will cause major disruption to global supply chains. We’ll have all the latest updates on our liveblog.

LIVING WITH COVID: Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, appears to have come out on the right side of a row with Sajid Javid, the health secretary, after the PM pressed ahead with axing all remaining Covid restrictions – including an end to mass free testing, which was reportedly opposed by Javid. Early on Monday, No 10 was thrown into disarray as a cabinet meeting to sign off on the “living with Covid” plan was delayed as the two cabinet ministers wrangled over the financial details. Johnson later gave an update to MPs in the Commons, confirming that all Covid restrictions – including the legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive test – will be scrapped from Thursday. From 1 April the provision of free testing will be targeted to the most vulnerable, the PM said.

BACKLASH: Both of those moves sparked a serious backlash, with medics describing the self-isolation move as “premature”, while poverty campaigners questioned the wisdom behind asking people to stump up the money for tests at what is an already difficult time for families struggling with the cost of living squeeze. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the government’s approach was characterised by “chaos and disarray”.“This is a half-baked announcement from a government paralysed by chaos and incompetence,” Sir Keir told MPs. “It is not a plan to live well with Covid.”

POWERGRAB FEARS: The elections watchdog has made a last-gasp plea to No 10 to drop a planned power-grab which it says would allow ministers to decide which organisations and activities are permitted in election campaigns. The Electoral Commission says the move has “no precedent” in western democracies. The shake-up – enabling ministers to set the Electoral Commission’s “strategy” – would see ministers able to “influence the operational functions and decision-making”, the EC said.

On the record

“It’s time we got our confidence back – we can rely on that sense of responsibility to one another. Let us learn to live with this virus, and continue protecting ourselves and others, without restricting freedoms.”

Johnson announces end of Covid restrictions.

From the Twitterati

“Vladimir Putin is an unashamed imperialist and chauvinist and progressives should condemn him to the dustbin of history.”

New Statesman senior editor George Eaton doesn’t hold back in his criticism of Putin.

Essential reading

• Tom Peck, The Independent: Is it the right time to be ending Covid restrictions? Nobody knows – least of all Boris Johnson
• Isobel Hardman, The Spectator: Ending Covid restrictions won’t save PM
• Caroline Lucas, The Independent: Another nuclear power station is not the answer to the energy crisis
• Timothy Snyder, The Atlantic: Putin’s wall of mirrors

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