Ukraine crisis: Boris Johnson heads to Kyiv; Putin phone call delayed – live | World news

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1.42pm GMT 13:42

And here is a picture of Putin and Orbán at a very socially-distanced table:

Russia Putin President meets with Hungary Prime Minister Orban in Moscow Photograph: Mikhail Klimentyev/TASS

1.40pm GMT 13:40

Andrew Roth

Our Moscow correspondent, Andrew Roth, reports on the Putin/Orbán meeting today:

Journalists from the Kremlin pool have said that Putin is likely to break his silence on negotiations with the United States and Nato over his demands for what he calls “security guarantees”. Those comments will likely come in a press conference scheduled to follow the bilateral meeting.

In their opening remarks, Putin said he planned to brief Orbán on the negotiations, which have included a Russian proposal for a new bilateral treaty that would roll back Nato and require a confirmation that Ukraine would not join the alliance. The United States and Nato have both sent written responses, which the Kremlin has said did not address Russia’s core concerns.

“I believe it is very important that you and I exchange views on the current security levels,” Putin told Orbán. “As you know, we submitted our proposals to the United States regarding the respective written obligations and I will be pleased to tell you how the process has been developing.”

Putin also said he wanted to discuss joint efforts to combat Covid-19 by expanding production of Russia’s Sputnik vaccine and on energy cooperation.

The two leaders were seated across from each other at a very long table. The curious seating arrangement appears to be the Kremlin’s latest innovation to protect Putin from coronavirus (he has said he was vaccinated and received a booster shot). Most Russian officials must quarantine for two weeks before meeting with Putin.

In remarks delivered in Russian, Orbán told Putin that “it’s true we are going through difficult times but 2021 was the most successful year if we talk about the relations between our countries”.

He called “security” – meaning the potential for conflict – over Ukraine, “the most urgent issue.

“I would like to assure you that no leader from the European Union would want a war,” he said. “We always call for finding a political solution.”

1.10pm GMT 13:10

A reader has just emailed me to note that the £88m the UK is due to provide to Ukraine to “support stable governance and energy independence” is interesting.

“I think you have forgotten to add that, meanwhile, there is neither stable governance nor energy independence in the UK currently,” the reader writes.

Updated at 1.37pm GMT

1.08pm GMT 13:08

By the way, Putin’s spokesman won’t confirm if the Johnson call has been rescheduled or not. So this drama might continue a little longer.

12.41pm GMT 12:41

Johnson and Putin to speak on Wednesday afternoon

On ‘phonegate’: Boris Johnson’s spokesman says the prime minister’s call with Putin has now been rescheduled to Wednesday afternoon. I think the Russian leader has made his point.

12.04pm GMT 12:04

Poland to supply Ukraine with shells, mortars, surface-to-air missiles

Poland’s prime minister has promised to provide Ukraine with gas and arms supplies, including tens of thousands of artillery shells and light mortars.

Weapons will also include powerful man-portable air-defence systems, also known as Manpads, which can take down low-flying aircraft such as helicopters.

“Our part of Europe does not experience earthquakes or volcano eruptions. So what, if living close to a neighbor like Russia we have the feeling of living at the foot of a volcano,” said Mateusz Morawiecki (who has clearly done some media training).

Speaking in Kyiv, he said Germany should abandon the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, as it gives Russia leverage over Europe.

“Through launching this pipeline, Berlin is loading Putin’s pistol, which he can then use to blackmail the whole of Europe,” he said.

Here’s an explainer of Nord Stream 2:

Updated at 12.22pm GMT

11.51am GMT 11:51

UK, Poland and Ukraine discussing regional security patch – Ukraine PM

Johnson has boarded his flight to Ukraine, as you’ll see from the picture above.

Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, has said that Britain, Ukraine and Poland – whose PM Mateusz Morawiecki is also in Kyiv – are considering a trilateral pact to strengthen regional security.

“I hope that in the near future we will be able to officially launch a new regional format of cooperation – Ukraine-Poland-UK. In the context of ongoing Russian aggression, we should sign a trilateral document on cooperation to strengthen regional security,” Shmyhal said.

It’s not clear if London and Warsaw have already agreed to this, and if it will be announced today.

Updated at 12.22pm GMT

11.40am GMT 11:40

Boris Johnson flights to Ukraine

Oliver Holmes

The British prime minister will fly to Kyiv today as part of a western effort to show support for the former Soviet state as Russia amasses forces on its borders.

Keen to place the UK at the forefront of a diplomatic push, Boris Johnson was due to have stern words with Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, on Monday.

But that call has now become an embarrassment for Johnson. His team attempted to delay the call to today as Johnson was in parliament on Monday fighting for his political life – apologising for a scandal over boozy lockdown parties at 10 Downing Street.

Meanwhile, his foreign secretary, Liz Truss, who announced what she said was robust sanction legislation on Monday to pressure Moscow will not make the Ukraine trip with her boss – Truss tested positive for Covid on Monday.

Liz Truss (@trussliz)

I tested positive for Covid this evening.

Thankfully I’ve had my three jabs and will be working from home while I isolate.

January 31, 2022

Johnson will meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, and is expected to pledge £88m of new funding to “support stable governance and energy independence”.

Here’s more on the schedule for today:

Putin will meet Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán in Moscow. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will speak by phone with his US counterpart, Antony Blinken. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, will hold a press conference this afternoon. Boris Johnson and Volodymyr Zelensky will hold a joint press conference this evening.

Feel free to send me anything you think is worth putting on the blog to this email: oliver.holmes [at] theguardian.com

Updated at 12.22pm GMT

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