David Lammy has compared Vladimir Putin to a mafia boss over the war in Ukraine

David Lammy compared Vladimir Putin to a mafia boss over his invasion of Ukraine.

In a direct message to the Russian president, the foreign minister stated: “We know who you are.”

During his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Lammy also accused Putin of trying to “build an empire built on lies”.

He said: “Vladimir Putin, if you fire missiles at Ukrainian hospitals, we will know who you are.

“If you send mercenaries to African countries, we know who you are.

“If you kill opponents in European cities, we know who you are.

“Your invasion is in your own interest. Only in your interest. To expand your mafia state into a mafia empire. An empire built on corruption.

“Robbing the Russian people and Ukraine. An empire built on suppressing dissent. Brave opponents like (Aleksey) Navalny.

“An empire built on lies. Spreading disinformation at home and abroad to sow chaos.”

Drawing on the example of his own heritage, he added: ‘I speak not just as a Briton, as a Londoner and as a Foreign Secretary.

“I also stand here as a black man whose ancestors were taken from Africa in chains, at the barrel of a gun, to be enslaved, whose ancestors rose up and fought in a great uprising of the enslaved.

“Imperialism. I know it when I see it. And I will call it what it is.”

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