TEDDINGTON'S MP Munira Wilson has said the UK must impose "the most severe sanctions possible" following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Liberal-Democrat MP Wilson spoke out on Twitter yesterday (February 24) after the Eastern European country was attacked by its neighbour.

137 people have been killed and over 300 wounded in the conflict so far, according to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.

In a Twitter post, Wilson said: "What a dark dark day. I'm praying for the people of Ukraine and Russia this morning.

"The UK government must not hold back now with the most severe sanctions possible.

"#IStandWithUkraine"

Yesterday, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps.

"President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

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"The UK and our allies will respond decisively."

Labour leader Keir Starmer also slammed the "unprovoked and unjustifiable" attack and called for sanctions on Russia, stating "the influence of Russian money must be extricated from the U.K."

He added: "In the face of Russian aggression, our political parties here in the UK must be united."

Since the invasion, the UK has imposed economic sanctions on Russia including freezing the assets of Russian banks and excluding them from the UK financial system.

Export licences for items which can be used for military purposes will be suspended and Russian airline Aeroflot banned from the UK.

British troops will not be sent in to support Ukraine due to fears this could trigger a European war, Defence Minister Ben Wallace confirmed today,

The Home Office has also changed Visa rules for Ukrainian nationals allowing them to stay in Britain for longer or switch to a different form of immigration.

Leading charities including Save the Children and Amnesty are now urging Britain to welcome refugees from Ukraine as according to the UN 5 million people could be displaced by the conflict.

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Update: Richmond Council have now issued a statement on the crisis - read it HERE