TL;DR
Liz Truss maintained a resolutely hawkish stance, consistently championing strong sanctions and unwavering military support for Ukraine against Russia.
Key Points
She advocated for sanctions on Russia to end only upon a full ceasefire and withdrawal of its forces from all illegally occupied territory in March 2022.
As Foreign Secretary, she supported declassifying intelligence to weaken the Russian government ahead of the full-scale invasion in early 2022.
Her tenure as Trade Secretary saw the approval of £289m of controlled UK exports to Russia in the two years before the Ukraine invasion.
She stated that her government was determined Putin's regime should be held accountable at the international criminal court.
Summary
Liz Truss articulated a consistently hardline stance against Russia, particularly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, viewing the country’s actions as a clear and present threat to European security. As Foreign Secretary, she led diplomatic efforts, including applying pressure on Moscow at the UN Security Council and planning a direct visit to the capital. She made clear that the United Kingdom would provide credible deterrence through military support, such as reinforcing NATO troops and offering assets, while simultaneously urging diplomatic engagement based on respecting established borders. She stressed that any further invasion would be a massive strategic mistake for Russia, leading to unprecedented sanctions.
Her antipathy towards the Russian leadership predated the 2022 invasion, evidenced by a frosty meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister in February 2022, which the Kremlin later cited as evidence of Western ignorance. As a leadership candidate and later Prime Minister, she vowed continuity in backing Ukraine with military equipment and adopting a hawkish tone, rejecting any idea of an immediate peace deal that would let Russia benefit from aggression. Throughout her tenure, she emphasized that the quarrel was with the Russian leaders' policies, not the people, while simultaneously backing calls for Russia to be pushed out of all illegally occupied Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.
Key Quotes
“I stood up to Vladimir Putin by targeting Russia with the toughest sanctions his regime has ever seen,” she said. “And I would continue to lead the free world in opposing Putin and making sure that Ukraine prevails.”
“We will keep going further and faster to push Russia out of the whole of Ukraine”
Frequently Asked Questions
Liz Truss has taken a consistently strong and negative stance against Russia, viewing its leadership as a significant threat. Her position is defined by championing the toughest sanctions against Moscow and ensuring unwavering military support for Ukraine to repel the invasion.
Her position did not evolve; rather, she aimed to reinforce her existing hawkish stance upon becoming Prime Minister. She pledged continuity in aggressively confronting Russia's aggression and supporting Ukraine's right to determine its own future.
She was highly skeptical of peace talks with Russia in the early stages of the war, describing them as a potential 'diversion' or 'smokescreen.' She insisted that any settlement must not reward Russian aggression and required them to respect established borders first.
Sources6
We must face down the clear and present threat posed by Russia: article by Liz Truss
How Liz Truss, Russia's Nemesis, Could Change Ukraine War if She Becomes PM
Kremlin scathing over Truss but Kyiv praises Britain's new PM | Liz Truss
Liz Truss approved £289m of UK exports with potential military use to Russia before Ukraine invasion
Liz Truss helped derail chances of peace in Ukraine – now she must back negotiations
Liz Truss - Wikipedia
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.