London —
The British government will boycott the Winter Paralympics in Sochi over host
Russia's military action in Ukraine, Prime Minister David Cameron said Sunday.
The British
premier said he and Foreign Secretary William Hague thought it would be
"wrong" for ministers to go to the Games, which start on Friday,
given the unfolding events in nearby Ukraine.
Cameron
tweeted: "Because of the serious situation in Ukraine, @WilliamJHague
& I believe it would be wrong for UK Ministers to attend the Sochi
Paralympics."
A Downing
Street spokesman said Cameron remained "gravely concerned" about the
situation in Ukraine and would talk to US President Barack Obama later Sunday.
Cameron was
also due to speak Sunday with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Lithuanian
President Dalia Grybauskaite
Hague has
flown to Kiev to meet the new Ukrainian authorities, make clear London's
support for them and to urge continued restraint.
Hague
announced earlier that Britain would not take part in preparatory meetings this
week in Russia for the G8 summit, due to be held in the Black Sea resort of
Sochi in June.
"In
current circumstances, the prime minister is clear that the focus of our
engagement with Russia must be the situation in Ukraine, rather than other
normal business," the Downing Street spokesman said.
Ukraine
warned Sunday it was on the brink of disaster and called up military reservists
after Russia's threat to invade its Western-leaning neighbour risked sparking
the worst crisis since the Cold War.
"The
prime minister remains gravely concerned about events in Ukraine and is
determined to pursue all avenues to reduce tensions and de-escalate a very
dangerous situation," said the Downing Street spokesman.
"A
stable Ukraine is in the interests of everyone -- including the UK. Ukraine is
one of the largest countries in Europe and a neighbour of the European Union.
Its economic prosperity, security and stability matter.
"The
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine has been violated and this
cannot be the way to conduct international affairs."
He added:
"The prime minister and foreign secretary have also decided that it would
be inappropriate for UK ministers to attend the Sochi Paralympics in current
circumstances.
"The
prime minister remains fully supportive of our Paralympic athletes'
participation at Sochi."
Cameron did
not attend the Sochi Winter Olympics last month. There is no tradition of
British prime ministers attending the Winter Games.
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