LONDON, March 20, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 
Sunday urged China to join Western nations in condemning the Russian invasion 
of Ukraine. 

"As time goes on, and as the number of Russian atrocities mounts up, I think 
it becomes steadily more difficult and politically embarrassing for people 
either actively or passively to condone Putin's invasion," he told the Sunday 
Times.

There were now "considerable dilemmas" for countries who were yet to speak 
out against Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said, adding: "I think that 
in Beijing you are starting to see some second thoughts."

Ukraine on Saturday called on China to condemn "Russian barbarism" after 
dozens were killed in new strikes.

Ukraine and the United States are concerned about Chinese potentially sending 
military aid to Russia or helping Moscow circumvent Western sanctions. 

US President Joe Biden has warned Chinese leader Xi Jinping of "consequences" 
if he backs Russia, but Beijing has so far showed no sign of criticising the 
invasion.

Johnson called the crisis a "turning point for the world" during a speech at 
his Conservative Party conference attended by the Ukrainian ambassador to 
London, Vadym Prystaiko. 

"There are some around the world... who say that we're better off making 
accommodations with tyranny... I believe they are profoundly wrong," the 
British leader told the conference in Blackpool, northwest England.

"To try to renormalise relations with Putin after this, as we did in 2014, 
would be to make exactly the same mistake again, and that is why Putin must 
fail. 

"This is a turning point for the world and it's a moment of choice. It's a 
choice between freedom and oppression," Johnson said.