G7 meeting: Russia and Syria could face 'further sanctions', says Boris Johnson

Senior Russian military officers involved in supporting Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's campaign of repression against his own people could face international sanctions, Boris Johnson has warned.

Arriving for talks with G7 foreign ministers in Lucca in Italy, the Foreign Secretary said the Russians "have a choice" to "stick like glue" to the Assad's "toxic" regime or "work with the rest of the world" to find a political solution to the Syrian civil war.

Mr Johnson added that Russia "needs a way out and a way forward" as he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin he was "toxifying the reputation of Russia" through his association "with a guy who has flagrantly poisoned his own people".

The Foreign Secretary said US President Donald Trump's decision to launch cruise missiles against a Syrian air base in response to the regime's use of sarin nerve agent had "changed the game" and the Russians had to decide which side they were on.

"We will be discussing the possibility of further sanctions certainly on some of the Syrian military figures and indeed on some of the Russian military figures who have been involved in co-ordinating the Syrian military efforts and are thereby contaminated by the appalling behaviour of the Assad regime," Mr Johnson told reporters.

"They have a choice. That choice is to stick like glue to the Assad regime - that toxic regime which poisons its own people and is indeed poisoning the reputation of Russia - or to work with the rest of world to find a political solution," he said.

Mr Johnson defended his decision to pull out of talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, saying that it was important US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had the "clearest possible mandate" when he went to Moscow to deliver the response of the G7.

"It think it is very important in these circumstances for the world to present a united front and for there to be absolutely no ambiguity about the message," he said.

Boris Johnson was due to meet Sergey Lavrov for talks this week. Credit: PA

In a statement issued on Monday evening, Downing Street said: “Theresa May tonight spoke with US President Trump to discuss last week's chemical weapons attack in Syria and the US response.

“The President thanked the Prime Minister for her support in the wake of last week's US military action against the Assad regime.

“The Prime Minister and the President agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest.

Boris Johnson stands with his foreign minister counterparts at the G7. Credit: EBU

It continued: “They agreed that US Secretary of State Tillerson's visit to Moscow this week provides an opportunity to make progress towards a solution which will deliver a lasting political settlement.

“They also discussed the broader Middle East, including the threat posed by Iran throughout the region.

“The Prime Minister and President also stressed the importance of the international community, including China, putting pressure on North Korea to constrain the threat it poses.”