Johnson issues open invitation to Russian scientists ‘dismayed by Putin’s violence’

Boris Johnson used the G7 summit to argue that allowing Russia to prevail in Ukraine would lead to a damaging era of global instability.

Johnson said that the expansion of a twinning system with Ukrainian universities would allow Ukrainian academics to continue their research at UK institutions.

The Russian scientists and researchers who are looking upon Putin's violence in dismay and who no longer feel safe in Russia should feel free to apply to the UK and work in a country that values openness, freedom and the pursuit of knowledge.

The researchers at risk scheme will bring about 130 Ukrainian academics to the UK in order to support them.

While UK officials say the G7 summit has seen unprecedented unity among world leaders over long term support, there has been little in the way of concrete action.

Johnson will travel to Madrid on Tuesday to attend the Nato summit.

The main goal for the event was to make sure that there was complete unity.

He said, "Obviously, this G7 shouldn't be seen in isolation, because we then move straight into Nato, where you might see more of the detailed elements of how that support and commitment might play out."

While support for Ukrainian resistance will bring more price rises and other economic pain, the consequences of a Russian victory would be much worse, according to Johnson.

The need to oppose Russia was similar to the need to oppose fascists in the second world war, according to Johnson.

There is a need for strategic endurance according to Johnson.

Imagine if we didn't stay the course. If we allowed Putin to get away with the violent acquisition of huge chunks of another country, the lessons for that would be chilling in all of the countries of the former soviet union.

It would cause long-term instability and anxiety across the world.

The prime minister believes that the price of freedom is worth it. It took the democracies in the middle of the last century to realize that they had to resist tyranny. The price was very high.

The world order that relied on a rules-based international system was bought in the end by the defeat of the dictators. That is worth defending and delivering long-term prosperity.

Johnson said the impact of a Russian victory would be felt in east Asia.

The prime minister is aware of the lessons of history about not being seen to take robust action when authoritarian leaders are watching carefully, according to his spokesman.