'There will be very grim days ahead...' Boris Johnson's warning over Ukraine as he pledges to take in refugees

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Boris Johnson has pledged to take refugees fleeing war-torn Ukraine as he warned there will be 'grim days ahead' for the country.

Speaking on Saturday night after a call with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Johnson said that "much tougher" economic sanctions against Russia were needed.

It comes as thousands of Ukrainian's make for the country's border, as Russian forces close in on the capital city of Kyiv. READ MORE: At RAF Brize Norton, the UK Prime Minister commended the efforts of Ukrainian citizens who have stayed behind to fight for their country. "Let’s be in no doubt, things are not going all the way of President Putin, very far from it," Mr Johnson said, speaking to journalists. "The Ukrainians are fighting heroically, and in some places with great success, as many of us thought they would because they’re a great country and a very brave country. "But there are some terrible atrocities being committed and there will be some very grim days ahead for Ukraine. "We’ve got to do everything we can to change the heavy odds that Ukraine faces and to help them, and so that’s why we’re sending humanitarian supplies, we’re sending financial supplies and military supplies as well. "The UK was the first European country to send military aid to Ukraine.

Last night, many other countries joined in sending, in pledging to send military assistance, you’re starting to see that grow." Mr Johnson said he also wanted to rebuff what he called "fake news" circulating online about the UK not taking refugees.