Swift

Ukraine foreign minister voices anger as EU leaders decide against blocking Russia from international payments system.

“This is now a critical moment for the history of the European union, the history of Europe,” he said. Officials suggested that Swift may be held back as part of a “third tranche” of sanctions. She said: “This package includes financial sanctions that cut Russia’s access to the most important capital markets. Three quarters of Russia’s current commercial air fleet were built in the European Union, the US and Canada. And therefore, they are massively depending on that.” “We cannot have the luxury of being a discussion club,” he said. “There are a range of views on it and we recognise it is a challenge. This will degrade the key sector of Russia’s economy and the country’s connectivity. Later Zelenskiy claimed that Russian assassins were in the Ukrainian capital and that both he and his family were on a kill list. But it is certainly the prime minister’s intention so we will continue to have those discussions.” UK sources said Johnson had also made a major play for leaders to withdraw Russia’s access to Swift during his G7 speech to other world leaders. “Everyone who now doubts whether Russia should be banned from Swift has to understand that the blood of innocent Ukrainian men, women and children will be on their hands too. “I will not be diplomatic on this,” he tweeted.