Shadow Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has launched a scathing critique of the government's pace in responding to Russian aggression, following a horrific missile strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv.
In a letter seen by the press, Cooper demanded that Foreign Secretary David Lammy immediately impose asset freezes and travel bans on Russian officials and military commanders suspected of involvement in the war crime. She expressed profound frustration that, despite the atrocity occurring earlier this week, the UK's sanctions list has yet to be updated.
'We must see much faster action,' Cooper insisted, highlighting the stark contrast between the UK's current delays and the rapid, coordinated sanctions rolled out at the beginning of the conflict. She warned that any procrastination undermines both justice for Ukrainian victims and Britain's standing on the world stage.
The direct call to action underscores the new Labour government's intent to pursue a robust foreign policy against Putin's regime. Cooper's letter serves as one of the first significant tests of the party's approach to defence and international diplomacy since taking office.
This move places considerable pressure on David Lammy to demonstrate that the UK can and will act decisively to hold Russian war criminals accountable, without the bureaucratic delays that have characterised recent responses.
