Priti Patel will meet Ukrainians trying to flee to the UK as she faced calls to extend visas to all fleeing the war zone.
The home secretary will be in Poland on Friday to launch the Ukraine family scheme to allow Britons and those settled in the UK to bring their relatives over to join them.
However, Labour said the government needs to go further by introducing a “simple emergency visa available to all Ukrainians that need sanctuary and protection in the UK”.
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Visa applications open on Friday
Ms Patel will travel to Medyka in eastern Poland on the border with Ukraine to see the situation for herself.
Ahead of the visit, she said: “The British government will do everything it can to support the Ukrainian people at this critical moment as they fight for freedom.
“I have developed the Ukraine family scheme following discussions with the Ukrainian government and neighbouring countries and I am proud to have launched it within a matter of days, enabling Ukrainians with family in the United Kingdom to be welcomed safely, quickly and free of charge.
“The United Kingdom stands to shoulder with Ukrainians, providing humanitarian practical support.”
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Initially, the UK offered a visa to just immediate family but on Tuesday that was widened to include parents, grandparents and siblings. Applications open on Friday.
A sponsorship scheme will also allow individuals and organisations to bring Ukrainians to the UK.
In key developments:
• Putin claims Russian invasion ‘going to plan’
• Macron says Putin wants to seize all of Ukraine and ‘worse is to come’
• Paralympic bosses make U-turn and ban Russian and Belarusian athletes
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Source : skynews
