Ministers to boycott Paralympics as fears grow in Ukraine

British ministers will boycott the Paralympics in Sochi over Russia’s decision to take military action in Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary William Hague is meeting Ukraine's leaders as the crisis deepensForeign Secretary William Hague is meeting Ukraine's leaders as the crisis deepens
Foreign Secretary William Hague is meeting Ukraine's leaders as the crisis deepens

David Cameron said it would be “wrong” for members of the Government to attend the games in Russia because of the “serious situation” in Ukraine.

It comes after William Hague announced the UK has pulled out of preparatory talks due to be held in the coming days for the G8 summit in Sochi.

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The Prime Minister tweeted: “Because of the serious situation in Ukraine, @WilliamJHague & I believe it would be wrong for UK Ministers to attend the Sochi Paralympics.”

Britain’s attempt to ramp up the diplomatic pressure on Moscow came as hundreds of unidentified gunmen surrounded an infantry base in the region.

The convoy of at least 13 troop vehicles, with Russian number plates, and four armoured vehicles with mounted machine guns, prevented anyone entering or leaving the base in Privolnoye.

Mr Hague said the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine had been “violated” and called for Moscow to speak directly to the nation’s new leaders.

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Speaking from RAF Northolt as he was about to board a plane to Kiev, the Foreign Secretary said: “We have to recognise the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine has been violated and this cannot be the way to conduct international affairs and so, in addition to calling yesterday’s emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom will join other G8 countries this week in suspending our cooperation under the G8, which Russia chairs this year, including the meetings this week for the preparation of the G8 summit.

Ukraine has put its army on full combat alert following the widespread deployment of Russian troops.

Its new prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has called on the Russian premier to pull back his troops, warning “we are on the brink of disaster”.

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