Russian President Vladimir Putin wouldn’t have launched into a “crazy, macho war” towards Ukraine if he had been a lady, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has mentioned.
In an interview with the German media on the finish of the G7 Summit in Schloss Elmau this week, Johnson pointed to Putin’s machismo as a contributory issue within the Russia-Ukraine battle.
He additionally referred to as for extra girls in “positions of power” as one of many measures in direction of international peace.
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“If Putin was a woman, which he obviously isn’t, if he were, I really don’t think he would have embarked on a crazy, macho war of invasion and violence in the way that he has,” Johnson instructed broadcaster ZDF.
“If you want a perfect example of toxic masculinity, it’s what he is doing,” he mentioned, referring to the 69-year-old Russian president.
During the latest G7 Summit in Germany, leaders of the highly effective bloc mocked Putin over his notorious bare-chested image atop a horse.
Asked about Johnson’s remarks, the prime minister’s official spokesman mentioned that “there is not a deliberate policy”, including: “The British public would expect leaders to be robust with someone killing innocent civilians on a daily basis.”
Johnson’s feedback come forward of a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) assembly in Madrid the place western allies will talk about how to answer future threats.
At the summit, Johnson is about to name on fellow members of the defensive alliance to ramp up defence spending.
Meanwhile, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) introduced new sanctions to focus on Putin’s “inner circle”, together with Vladimir Potanin — Russia’s second richest man and proprietor of main conglomerate Interros.
Potanin continues to amass wealth as he helps Putin’s regime, buying Rosbank, and shares in Tinkoff Bank within the interval since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the FCDO mentioned.
Anna Tsivileva, Putin’s cousin and President of the outstanding Russian coal mining firm, JSC Kolmar Group, has additionally been sanctioned.
Tsivileva’s husband Sergey Tsivilev is Governor of the coal wealthy Kemerovo area and the couple have considerably benefited from their relationship to Putin. JSC Kolmar Group can also be being sanctioned.
“As long as Putin continues his abhorrent assault on Ukraine, we will use sanctions to weaken the Russian war machine. Today’s sanctions show that nothing and no one is off the table, including Putin’s inner circle,” a UK authorities spokesperson mentioned.
The UK authorities mentioned it is usually sanctioning a gaggle of Russian people and firms for his or her involvement in repressing civilians and supporting the Assad regime in Syria.