FILE PHOTO: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shakes hands with Britain's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss during a meeting on the sidelines of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2021. REUTERS./

 – British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will visit Poland on Monday to call for tougher sanctions on Russia, her office said, as major western countries work together to ramp up the pressure on President Vladimir Putin and end the conflict in Ukraine.

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is yet to show he is serious about diplomacy. A tough approach from the UK and our allies is vital to strengthen Ukraine’s hand in negotiations,” Truss said.

“Britain has helped lead the way with sanctions to cripple the Putin war machine. We will do more to ramp up the pressure on Russia and we will keep pushing others to do more.”

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Truss is due to meet Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba in Poland’s capital Warsaw later today and her Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau on Tuesday.

Britain, a former European Union member, has coordinated with international allies to impose sanctions on key Russian industries and Moscow’s wealthy elites with the aim of crippling its economy in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Truss will head to Brussels later this week for talks with G7 and NATO allies, the statement added.


(Reporting by Muvija M; Editing by William James and Michael Holden)