West imposes sanctions on Putin as the noose tightens around Kyiv

Western allies have sought to stage a show of unity as Russian forces close in on Kyiv amid fears a European capital is about to be engulfed in a devastating conflict (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Western allies have sought to stage a show of unity as Russian forces close in on Kyiv amid fears a European capital is about to be engulfed in a devastating conflict.

The UK, US and the European Union announced plans to impose personal sanctions on President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in response to the Kremlin assault on Ukraine.