Sanctions

Stewart Malcolm McDonald Excerpts

Monday 28th February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

I welcome the actions by companies who are dissociating themselves from working with the Putin regime, including BP’s divestment.

[Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow South) (SNP)]

We have all witnessed the horrifying war crimes taking place against the people of Ukraine. One would have thought, would one not, that there would have been at least some diplomatic expulsions in co-ordination with others as a result of that? However, the Foreign Secretary dodged the question from my good friend the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Alicia Kearns). Is her Department working on plans should those war crimes get worse and chemical weapons are deployed against the people of Ukraine?

[Elizabeth Truss]

Yes, we are working on that. We are working closely with the International Criminal Court, and the chief prosecutor has already issued a statement about the situation in Ukraine. We are determined that everyone in Russia close to Putin, who is in charge of this appalling invasion, should be aware that they could be prosecuted for war crimes for what they are doing. On diplomatic expulsions, of course we do not rule anything out. We are working closely with our allies.