Russian-Ukraine War: Boris Johnson warns Russian victory in Ukraine would be 'absolutely catastrophic'

 Russian-Ukraine War: Boris Johnson warns Russian victory in Ukraine would be 'absolutely catastrophic' 

 Russian-Ukraine War: Boris Johnson warns Russian victory in Ukraine would be 'absolutely catastrophic'

Allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to succeed in his invasion of Ukraine would have "absolutely catastrophic" consequences for the world, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned in a Hotnewsnow interview on Sunday.

Speaking to Jake Tapper on Hotnewsnow's "State of the Union" hours after Russian missiles hit Kyiv, shattering what had been relative calm in the Ukrainian capital, Johnson urged Americans, Britons and others in the West to maintain resolve in punishing Moscow, despite the effect the war has had on global oil prices.

"I would just say to people in the United States that this is something that America historically does and has to do, and that is to step up for peace and freedom and democracy," Johnson said. "And if we let Putin get away with it, and just annex, conquer sizable parts of a free, independent, sovereign country, which is what he is poised to do ... then the consequences for the world are absolutely catastrophic."

Johnson is joining other G7 leaders in the Bavarian Alps this week for talks centered on the conflict in Ukraine, which has become a grinding conflict of attrition as it enters its fifth month.

The leaders are expected to discuss new methods of punishing Moscow, including a ban on new gold imports from Russia that US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday. But hanging over the summit is whether the West can maintain its resolve in punishing Putin amid skyrocketing energy prices and the political backlash the spike has caused for leaders back home.